Bicol puts up own regional hospital to address health concerns of locals

FILE PHOTO: Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy Co. Photo from the official Facebook Page of congressman Co

DAVAO CITY, Philippines — Residents in Bicol Region will soon no longer need to travel to Metro Manila for medical care, as the Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center is set to be established in Legazpi City, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez and Rep. Elizaldy Co said.

During the groundbreaking of the 20-story hospital on Friday, both Romualdez and Co touted the Legacy Hospitals Project of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration, as it would address the shortage of properly equipped hospitals in the countryside.

“Hindi lamang natin bibigyan ng ospital ang mga may sakit ng kanser. Bibigyan din natin sila ng mga world-class na doctor at nurse na sasanayin natin at bibigyan ng kailangang suporta. Ang mga doktor na nasanay sa Philippine Cancer Center ang ipapadala natin sa mga regional specialty hospitals para manggamot din sa mga probinsya,” he said.

(We are not only giving those sick with cancer a hospital.  We are also giving them world-class doctors and nurses whom we would train and support.  Doctors trained with the Philippine Cancer Center will be sent to the regional specialty hospitals so that they can cure people in provinces.)

“Para sa regional specialty hospitals, pangarap ng ating Pangulo na maramdaman din ng mga taga-probinsya ang pag-aalaga sa mga pasyente mula sa mga world-class na ospital tulad nang naitayo ng kanyang ama sa Metro Manila,” he added.“Umaasa ako na hindi lamang mga taga-Legazpi o taga-Albay ang makikinabang sa world-class service dito kundi maging lahat ng pasyente sa buong Bicol region.”

(For the regional specialty hospitals, our President’s dream is for patients in provinces to feel the nurture and care from world-class hospitals like what his father built in Metro Manila.  I am hopeful that not only residents from Legazpi or Albay would feel the world-class service here, but even all patients in the Bicol Region.)

Co said that the hospital is not merely a building, but a landmark that would signify better health services for the people — as the hospital would include a segment for the Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center, and Kidney Center.

“This is not just a building.  It is a landmark for our region and for our country.  Ito ay magiging Level 3 hospital na may heart center, lung center, cancer center, at iba pang pasilidad para sa special medical needs ng ating mga kababayan,” Co said.

(This is not just a building.  It is a landmark for our region and for our country.  This will be a Level 3 hospital with a heart center, lung center, cancer center, and other facilities for the special medical needs of our people.)

“With this project, Bicolanos don’t have to travel to Manila for specialized medical treatment.  We are committed to enhancing our healthcare services, thus we are building a 433-bed capacity hospital, with state of the art facilities and modern equipment like MRI, CT Scan, and diagnostic laboratories, and cancer center,” he added.

Last December, Romualdez has assured the public that the 2024 national budget has sufficient funding to finish Legacy Hospitals in three years — P1 billion for the UP-Philippine General Hospital; P1.5 billion for National Kidney and Transplant Institute; P1 billion for Philippine Cancer Center; P1 billion for Philippine Children’s Medical Center; P1 billion for Bicol Regional Medical Center; and P500 million for Batangas Regional Medical Center.

READ: Romualdez: P500-B ayuda, funds for legacy projects part of 2024 budget 

Other legacy projects

Both Romualdez and Co said that the Legacy Hospitals is only one part of the Marcos administration’s three-pronged Legacy Program.

“The Legacy Hospital project is only one of the three legacy projects of our President, this includes the Legacy Food Security to ensure our self-sufficiency in food, and then in housing, to give Filipinos decent and safe homes,” Co said.

With regards to housing, Romualdez said that the administration is looking to establish units for poor Filipino families that are decent living spaces and are equipped with properly-maintained facilities.

“We’re not just building homes for Filipino people, there are basketball courts, swimming pool, clubhouse and other amenities that we can only see in high-end subdivision at condominium,” he said.

“This is one of the dreams of our President: to give decent homes to Filipinos, to give them the right to live with dignity, to live within a community that is peaceful and safe,” he added.

For the Legacy Food project, Romualdez said the government is looking to assist farmers to increase their yield.

“For food security, we also have what is called the Legacy Food Security program to help the farmers so that they can increase their yield.  We would continue the programs where aid is given to those who need it,” he said.

“Congress would not stop allocating funds and crafting laws.  We will do this to help the President attain his dream of a prosperous future for each Filipino family, and a peaceful and safe country,” he added.