Senate Majority Floor Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri pledged to make the construction of a national government-funded Bacolod City hospital a reality.
Zubiri, at a press conference with Mayor Evelio Leonardia in Bacolod City Saturday, December 12, said that he has already asked for the program of works for the city hospital so he can have the P300 or P400 million allotment needed for it included in the 2022 national budget.
“We will make that project happen, along with many other projects for Bacolod, ” Zubiri assured.
Bacolod needs a city hospital, especially with what we saw during this COVID-19 pandemic, Zubiri said.
Zubiri said he committed to Leonardia that he will ensure the passage of a bill for the construction of a city hospital, which that he will file in the Senate this week.
A counterpart bill authored by Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya for the construction of a Bacolod City General Hospital has been approved in the Lower House.
Gasataya said he referred the bill to Zubiri’s office.
Zubiri said maximizing funding from the national government for the hospital will enable the city to use its funds for other needs of the people of Bacolod.
NO HIGHER OFFICE
Meanwhile, Zubiri denied that he has plans to run for higher office.
“I have no plans for running of higher office, it is like getting a hammer and hitting yourself on the head…Ambition clouds judgment,” he said.
“I just want to return to the Senate,” he said, so he can continue serving the needs, especially of the Visayas and Mindanao.*