Cleanliness and safety remain top priorities at the Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) in Bacolod City, Dr. Joan Cerrada, CLMMRH head, assured on Sunday, June 8.
“Our leadership and staff are committed to transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement. We welcome feedback, and we’re using it to shape better, safer, and more responsive care,” she said.
Cerrada, issued the assurance following a Fecebook post of Cayla Mitch Tecson on her family’s recent experience at the CLMMRH Emergency Department.
“I want to thank her for speaking up. Feedback, especially the kind that points out where we need to improve, is essential, and I take it seriously,” Cerrada said.
Tecson said their children went for a check-up and they found out that they had hand, foot, and mouth disease. “To save money and make sure they got good care, we decided to take them straight to Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital”, she said.
When they arrived, the hospital told them they needed to stay in an isolation room because of their sickness.
“We understood and agreed. But when we saw the room, we were shocked. It was dirty and not safe, especially for young kids with skin infections. Because of this, we asked to move to another hospital and left after three hours,” she added.
“I am not complaining, but I want the hospital to improve their isolation rooms. Hospitals should be clean and safe so patients and their families feel okay,” she added.
Cerrada said when Tecson’s family arrived the CLMMRH emergency room was already handling 83 patients, which was far over their current capacity of 68 beds.
“The two pediatric patients were assessed as potentially having infectious rashes and were recommended for isolation. Unfortunately, our pediatric isolation area was already full, overwhelmed by a recent surge in respiratory illnesses. As a temporary measure, the children were placed in the decontamination room”, she said.
The cot shown in the photo posted on Facebook had just been vacated by another patient when the picture was taken, she said.
“We understand how this might have appeared, and more importantly, how it must have felt for the family involved. We sincerely apologize for the discomfort and distress caused” Cerrada said.
“Please know that we’re not brushing this aside. This comes at a time when we are preparing for a long-overdue, major renovation of our Emergency Department, an upgrade that directly addresses the challenges highlighted in this experience,” she added.
The last full renovation was many years ago and a full comprehensive overhaul is needed, Cerrada said.
Cerrada said a full upgrade of the ER is scheduled to begin in August and is expected to last about three months.
The Department of Health has already approved their permit to construct, she said.
“We have coordinated with fellow hospitals in Bacolod and with local officials to ensure that emergency care continues during this period,” Cerrada said.
“While the ER is under construction, our team will undergo values formation and capacity-building training to strengthen both skill and service,” she added.
Cerrada said healthcare is not just about treatment, it’s about dignity, reassurance, and trust.
“Let this be more than just a renovation. Let it be a real turning point in how we care and how we serve. With these changes underway, CLMMRH leads the new era of compassionate and responsive public health service in the Negros Island Region,” Cerrada said.
Tecson, in a Facebook post Sunday night in reaction to Cerrada’ statement, thanked her for her attentiveness and genuine concern for her patients.
“Your prompt action and compassion means the world to us,” Tecson said.*