More funds have been allotted by the national government for the establishment of the Bacolod City General Hospital, Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya said on Wednesday, March 12.
Gasataya said an additional P100 million has been allotted for the construction of the state-of-the-art facility, which is expected to be completed next year.
Since its groundbreaking in September 2022, funds released for the project have reached between P600 million and P700 million.
“We’re looking that it will be finished by early 2026,” he said.
The construction of the hospital’s main building and other facilities on donated land in Barangay Vista Alegre is being funded by the national government through the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
The four-story main hospital building is being implemented by the DOH 6 (Western Visayas) through the city government under the agency’s Health Facilities Enhancement Program, while the DPWH-6 is constructing the three support buildings.
“We’re waiting for the additional P50 million fund that will be bid out by the city. The DPWH will also have an additional funding,” Gasataya said.
“Phase 1 is already finished while Phase 2 is around 80 percent completed. The next phase will involve the remaining details,” he added.
The 127-bed facility will have an emergency room, operating theater, intensive care unit, diagnostic laboratory, dental clinic, pharmacy, and chapel.
Patients can avail of services in obstetrics-gynecology, pediatrics, surgery, internal medicine, and outpatient services.
“For the preparation of the equipment, we’re coordinating with the DOH, and at the same, we’re working out the operational plan of the hospital. This should already be prepared considering that we’re near mid-2025,” Gasataya said.
The Bacolod City General Hospital is being established under Republic Act 11564, authored by Gasataya and sponsored by Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri.*PNA