Foundation effort on Tacloban hospital tagged ‘fine example’

TACLOBAN CITY—The city-run hospital was barely standing after Super Typhoon “Yolanda” pummeled this city on Nov. 8, 2013.

Almost 10 months later,  Tacloban City Hospital (TCH) now looks like a hotel after the facility was repaired and refurbished by  SM Foundation.

“This is the best hospital I’ve ever seen that looks nice inside and out. This is a fine example of not only building back better but safer and faster,” said former Sen. Panfilo “Ping” Lacson, rehabilitation czar.

Lacson joined officials of SM Foundation during the turnover rites on Aug. 27.

The SM officials were led by Teresita Sy-Coson, vice chair of  SM Investments Corp, Debbie Sy, executive director of SM Foundation, and Connie Angeles, executive director for health and medical programs.

TCH, composed of three buildings in Marasbaras District, was founded on Jan. 16, 1970. It served 100 patients daily.

But the city government had to close down TCH because of the devastation caused by Yolanda.

SM Foundation, however, did not only repair TCH but also improved its facilities. Its bed capacity now doubled from 50 to 100.

SM Foundation also expanded its emergency room and constructed a malnutrition ward, a prayer room and a wellness center for children and   elderly, which  was named  Felicidad T. Sy Wellness Center for Children and Elderly.

The foundation spent P20 million for the repair of  TCH that started in April and was completed in July.

SM Foundation also provided necessary equipment that enabled the hospital to perform major surgeries, thus improving its classification to second-level health facility.

The foundation has spent at least P100 million to repair structures—mostly health facilities and schools—that were damaged or destroyed by Yolanda.

Coson said they were happy to be involved in the repair of TCH, which served the medical needs of the people of Tacloban, considered the  ground zero of Yolanda.