Sarangani gets P220-M more from DOH for health projects

GENERAL SANTOS CITY--The Department of Health (DOH) has approved an additional grant of P220.7 million to Sarangani Province to fund the improvement of local health facilities and the implementation of various health initiatives.

Sarangani Gov. Steve Chiongbian Solon said Wednesday they are working on signing a partnership agreement with the DOH to facilitate the release of the funds and implementation of the lined up projects.

On Tuesday, the provincial board or Sangguniang Panlalawigan issued an authority to Gov. Solon to sign the terms of partnership of a proposed agreement with the agency.

The fresh funding is on top of the P112.5 million allotted by the DOH for the completion of the Sarangani Provincial Hospital in Alabel town and the construction of additional facilities for the Maitum municipal hospital.

The board authorized Solon last month to sign a memorandum of agreement with the agency in line with the hospital projects.

"This year alone, the province is getting more than P333 million from the DOH for various health projects," Solon said.

The governor said the grants will mainly boost the ongoing implementation of the local government's health initiatives under the Sulong Kalusugan program.

Of the P220.7 million funding, around P173 million was set aside for the improvement of health facilities in the province's seven municipalities.

Maitum municipal hospital will receive an additional P64.7 million worth of projects while the provincial hospital will get some P33.3 million.

Some P12.9 million was allotted for the Kiamba municipal hospital, P7 million for the Glan municipal hospital and P6.7 million for the Malungon municipal hospital.

A total of P41.2 million was set aside for the construction of additional barangay health centers in parts of the province.

The municipal hospitals of Kiamba, Glan and Malungon will get some P2.3 million worth of equipment while around P5 million was set for the improvement of the Malapatan municipal health office.

The DOH allotted some P6.2 million for the salaries of nurses and midwives that it assigned in the province and P1.6 million for the capability building of local health teams.

It will also deliver a total of P38.9 million worth of medicine and vaccines to combat various critical diseases like Tuberculosis.

Dr. Arvin Alejandro, Sarangani health officer, said they expect to receive more grants and assistance from the DOH next year. (PNA)