Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and Regional Director Adriano Suba-an of the Department of Health (seated, l-r) signed a A Memorandum of Agreement for the DOH allocation of P250 million for the construction of the BCGH’s main building in the presence of Rep. Emilio Yulo III, Rep. James Ang Jr., Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri, Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya and DPWH Regional Director Nerie Bueno (l-r, standing).*Andy Alvarez photo
Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri pledged an additional P400 million for the construction of the Bacolod City General Hospital (BCGH) at its groundbreaking rites in Barangay Vista Alegre, Bacolod City, on Friday, September 9.
This will bring the cost of the BCGH buildings to P850 million, Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya said.
The BCGH equipment will be separately sourced from the Department of Health, he added.
Gasataya and Zubiri authored the bills that led to the passage of Republic Act 11564 creating the BCGH.
Zubiri, in his speech, said “If this pandemic has taught us anything, it is that we need more hospitals across the country, especially in highly populated urban areas like Bacolod City”.
“With over half a million people in Bacolod City alone, it is clear that our public health facilities are simply not enough to cater to our people,” he said.
Establishing the BCGC will accomplish two things – decongest the existing hospitals in Bacolod and ensure quality health care for Bacolodnons that is more affordable than in private hospitals, he added.
It will also allow health workers at the overcrowded Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital to work within their capacity, Zubiri also said
A Memorandum of Agreement was signed between Bacolod Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and Regional Director Adriano Suba-an of the Department of Health on Friday for the DOH allocation of P250 million for the construction of the BCGH’s main building.
Zubiri committed to allocate another P400 million for the main building in the 2023 national budget, Gasataya said.
A bidding for the construction of the main building will proceed and it is hoped that the hospital will be operational by 2024, Gasataya said.
The groundbreaking for the construction of the dietary, linen and laundry and morgue buildings of the hospital was also held Friday. The Department of Public Works and Highways has allocated P200 million for the three buildings through Zubiri’s initiative.
The 4-hectare lot for the hospital complex was donated by Bacolod resident Gloria Gensoli, her nephew Alan Gensoli said.
The Bacolod City government will run and maintain the 120-bed hospital when it is completed, Gasataya said.
Gasataya said they are also looking into additional road networks to the hospital, which will create a new growth area for Bacolod City.
Also among those present at the groundbreaking rites were Bacolod City officials, Negros Occidental Vice Governor Jeffrey Ferrer, Rep. Emilio Yulo III (Neg. Occ., 5th District), Rep. James Ang Jr. (Uswag Ilonggo Partytlist) and DPWH Regional Director Nerie Bueno.*