LINGAYEN, Pangasinan -- Governor Amado Espino III is set to sign next week a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Health (DOH) on the grant of Php67.8 million worth of facilities to seven hospitals operated by the provincial government.
The provincial board led by Vice Governor Jose Ferdinand Z. Calimlim, Jr. unanimously approved a resolution that allows Governor Amado I. Espino III to enter into and sign the MOA.
Espino will sign the MOA with DOH Regional Director Myrna Cabotaje for the implementation of the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) for 2017 in seven hospitals operated by the province of Pangasinan.
Board Member Jeremy Agerico Rosario expressed confidence the program will upgrade the seven hospitals so that they can serve more patients and deliver better services to them.
The seven hospitals and their respective outlays are Urdaneta District Hospital, PHP20 million; Bayambang District Hospital, PHP6 million; Lingayen District Hospital, PHP10 million; Asingan Community Hospital, PHP2 million; Dasol Community Hospital, PHP11.8 million; Manaoag Community Hospital, PHP8 million; and Umingan Community Hospital, PHP10 million.
HFEP is a DOH program that aims to improve and upgrade health facilities in the rural areas for them to sufficiently provide emergency and primary health care services to people.
Board Member Angel Baniqued Jr. noted that Pangasinan is one of the beneficiaries of HFEP for three years now.
Dr. Cielo Almoite, Assistant Provincial Health Officer, disclosed seven other provincial hospitals have received the same projects in the past year.
Cost of funding per hospital, she added, depends on the identified needs as assessed by the Provincial Engineering Office (PEO) for approval by DOH regional office.
HFEP was launched by DOH in 2008 mainly to align the nationwide government hospital system with the Health Reform Sector Agenda.
Priorities for funding were the upgrade of licensing classification and PhilHealth accreditation of government hospitals and expansion of services in tertiary hospitals to provide higher quality care. (PNA)
