Rep. Mercedes Alvarez (Neg. Occ., 6th District) said she welcomes the Department of Health’s proposal to allow the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) to operate the Merceditas J. Montilla District Hospital (MJMDH) in Sipalay City in Negros Occidental as an annex facility.
“This is a meaningful step forward. It allows us to breathe new life into an existing facility, strengthen it through proper supervision, and bring quality care closer to our communities,” she said in a Facebook post Thursday, March 19.
For many families, this means shorter travel, quicker access, and a better chance at timely treatment, Alvarez added.
“For MJMDH, this transition opens new possibilities. It will continue to grow into a more responsive and capable facility—one that can serve not only general medical needs but also address the quiet and urgent need for mental health services in the area,” she said.
Alvarez said that during the 2026 budget deliberations with the Department of Health in September, she raised the need to make better use of existing district hospitals by linking them with higher-level regional hospitals.
She is grateful to Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson for his openness and support, Alvarez said.
Alvarez said she will carefully study and work on the legislative measures needed to support and sustain the initiative, ensuring the partnership grows stronger and continues to serve the community in the long term.*
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