CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – Gov Lilia ‘Nanay’ Pineda together with Cong. Oscar Rodriguez, Department of Health (DOH) Assistant Secretary Elmer Punzalan, DOH Regional Director Leonita Gorgolon, Jose B. Lingad Memorial Regional Hospital chief Dr. Yolanda Lee-Dee and other local officials unveiled yesterday the newly constructed OB-Gynecology and Pediatric building and chapel inside the JBLMRH.
The six-storey building was constructed through Republic Act 10355, a bill sponsored by former fourth district Rep. Ana York Bondoc-Sagum, which aims to expand the bed capacity and modernization of JBLRMH.
According to Dr. Alfonso Danac, Media Relations Officer of JBLMRH, the hospital building was constructed with an allotment of P250 million for Phase 1.
“The entire building ang budget is P250 million pero that is initially for four floors only pero ang original plan is six floors. The first floor will house offices and then may critical care beds na wala sa lumang building. ‘Yong subsequent floors will include separate operating rooms. Four operating rooms will be allocated including the delivery rooms and labor room. ‘Yong last two floors na di pa gawa is for paediatric,” Danac said.
The first four storeys of the building with a total of 4,680 square meters can accommodate up to 171 patients.
Danac furthered that “there will be another six floors that will be constructed on the other side of the new building which is I think another P190 million budget. It’s already appropriated. We’re still working on the bid requirements”.
Director Gorgolon said the new building aims to enhance the delivery of basic, essential and specialized health services for the people of Region 3.
Dr. Dee in her speech thanked the people behind the realization of the new building. She also mentioned Gov. Pineda for her continuous support to the patients admitted in the regional hospital.
“Si gov po ang aming support arm in terms of financial assistance sa ating mga kababayan na nangangailangan ng atensyong medical,’ said Dee.
Gov Pineda for her part lauded the national government and DOH for the funds allotted not only in the province of Pampanga but also in the whole of Central Luzon. She also encouraged hospital personnel to give quality services to the patients admitted in JBLMRH.
“Baliwala ang magandang building at milyon-milyong pondo kung hindi mapapakinabangan ng mga mahihirap na pasyente,” the governor said
Cong. Rodriguez also challenged the hospital personnel to “change the bad perception that the people have towards public hospitals”.
“Baligtarin natin ang persepsyon ng tao na kapag sinabing public hospital e hindi maganda. Madaming mahuhusay na doctor at madaming facilities ang JBL. I challenge you, let us change the wrong perception. Let us have the commitment to make our people feel that they are important,” Rodriguez said.
City of San Fernando Mayor Edwin Santiago also announced during the program that JBLMRH was named as the grand winner for the Healthiest Hospital Award in the city.
Also present during the event were former Cong. Ana York Bondoc-Sagum, Department of Budget and Management Region 3 Director Elisa Salon, former JBL chief of hospital Dr. Venancio Banzon, representatives from Development Bank of the Philippines and Integrated Bar of the Philippines Pampanga chapter.
By Liezel Cayanan
