Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez led the groundbreaking of the P219 million Bacolod City Health Complex at Brgy 20, Bacolod City, on Wednesday, July 20.
The health complex is a priority project that will enable the city government to improve and expand health services for Bacolod residents, the mayor said.
The city government will also be procuring state of the art equipment for the health complex, including for laboratory services, he said.
The complex will cover 4,683 square meters and will feature two 4-storey buildings. Building 1 will have a floor area of 1,600 square meters, while Building 2 will cover 3,073 square meters.
They are aiming for the first phase of the complex to be completed in a year, Benitez said.
Benitez said aside from the Bacolod City Health Complex, super health centers that will serve a mini hospitals with the capacity admit up to 10 patients at a time will also be established in various parts of the city.
The super health centers will help decongest the city’s main hospitals, Benitez said
One super health center is nearing completion in Barangay Vista Alegre that will serve as the pioneer model, Benitez said.
Benitez said First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos has also promised another mobile health clinic for Bacolod on top of the one she turned over earlier.
He also pointed out that through the efforts of Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya the city will soon be having its own Bacolod City Hospital.
The mayor said he will also lobby with the national government for specialized medical facilities to be placed in Bacolod City.
Dr. Grace Tan, OIC City Health Officer, said with construction of the health complex the City Health Office “will finally be enhanced, beautified and improved for the change for a better Bacolod”.
The new complex will enable Bacolod residents to have access to a full range of quality health services without financial hardships, Tan said.
Dr. Razel Nikka Hao, Negros Island Region health regional director, also joined the groundbreaking rites.
The DOH regional office of the NIR will be located in Dumaguete City in Negros Oriental as stated in the law, she said.
A DOH office in Bacolod will provide services and receive documents so people don’t have to unnecessarily travel to the regional office in Negros Oriental, she said.
Hao said they are working with the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital on how to capacitate other hospitals in the NIR region.
The aim is to expand health services through primary care facilities in the NIR, she said.
Also present at the groundbreaking rites were Rep. Greg Gasataya and other Bacolod City officials, and Charles and Ginnette Dumancas of Home World Construction.
Monsignor Ronald Quijano led the blessing at the groundbreaking rites.*