House OKs creation of hospital for Samar Island, expansion of prov’l hospital in Catbalogan City
TACLOBAN CITY –– The House of Representatives has approved, on third and final reading, the creation of a hospital facility that will cater to the medical needs of the people on Samar Island and the expansion of a provincial hospital based in Catbalogan City, Samar province.
The proposed Samar Island Medical Center (SIMC), which will rise in Calbayog City, was approved by the lower house during their plenary session on Jan. 20.
Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez of the Tingog party-list said the people of Samar provinces will no longer have to travel to Tacloban City for medical assistance.
“The establishment of the Samar Island Medical Center would help address long travel times,” she said.
Samar Island is composed of the provinces of Samar, Eastern Samar, and Northern Samar.
The proposed Samar Island hospital is a 300-bed health facility that will be under the administration of the Department of Health.
It would be built on a four-hectare lot owned by the city government of Calbayog.
House Bill 8196, which is authored by Samar Rep. Sharee Ann Tan, intends to expand the provincial hospital from its current 100-bed capacity to 220.
The SPH is under the supervision of the provincial government.
