Gov. Mercado mulls construction of new provincial hospital

By BONG PEDALINO (PIA Southern Leyte)
April 28, 2008

MAASIN CITY, Southern Leyte  –  The existing provincial hospital needs expansion, but limited space in its present location has constrained any move to expand it any further, and so this necessitates the creation of a new one.

This plan to put up a new health facility was revealed by Gov. Damian Mercado during the Governor’s Time in the Provincial Development Council (PDC) meeting held at the RK Kanleon Function House, this city, last Friday, April 25.

In fact, this item was listed number one in the other matters portion of the agenda for that day’s PDC meeting.

Gov. Mercado noted that the provincial hospital, which had undergone two name changes in its more than forty years of life – first as Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO), and lately since last year Salvacion Oppus Yñiguez Memorial Provincial Hospital (SOYMPH) – has always been subsidized in its operations by the provincial local government unit.

But he added that he was amused on learning that on its own, the SOYMPH generated P5.5 million in revenues for the first quarter of 2008 alone, with the able leadership management of its head, Dr. Joselito Trumata, the provincial Health Officer.

A vacant, spacious lot in barangay Dongon which was owned by the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) was recently purchased by Rep. Roger Mercado, and this site will soon house the new provincial hospital if plans push through, said Gov. Mercado.

A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) will soon be signed between the city government, the province, and the Congressman for the utilization of the lot when the proper time comes, he added.

As this developed, a resolution was passed in the PDC requesting financial assistance from President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the construction of the said hospital at barangay Dongon.

No specific amount was mentioned in the PDC resolution which was approved unanimously.