NEW HOSPITAL. The site development perspective for the proposed Samar Island Medical Center in Calbayog City, Samar. The passage of Republic Act 11703, which seeks to establish the facility, will improve the delivery of healthcare services on the country’s third-largest island, Samar 1st District Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento, one of the principal authors, said on Wednesday (April 20, 2022). (Photo courtesy of Samar Daily News Online)
TACLOBAN CITY – The establishment of Samar Island Medical Center to improve the delivery of healthcare services in the country's third-largest island will soon be realized with the passage of Republic Act 11703 on Tuesday.
Samar 1st District Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento, one of the principal authors, said on Wednesday with this law, patients from the northern part of Samar province do not need to endure a five-hour land trip to get medical treatment and other services at the Eastern Regional Medical Center (EVRMC), the region’s main referral hospital based in Tacloban.
“With the establishment of the 300-bed Samar Island Medical Center in Calbayog, people who need magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerized tomography (CT) scan, dialysis, and other important medical treatments can have it in Samar,” Sarmiento said in a statement.
The proposed hospital, which will be funded by the national government, will benefit more than 300,000 residents of Samar's first legislative district.
The facility will also be open to all patients in Samar’s three provinces with a combined population of 1.2 million.
The planned Department of Health-run tertiary hospital will rise on a four-hectare lot owned by the city government of Calbayog. The government has yet to release project cost estimates.
Tertiary hospital refers to a hospital, which has the capabilities to provide medical care to cases requiring sophisticated diagnostic and therapeutic equipment and the expertise of trained specialists and sub-specialists.
“By signing this bill into law, the President Duterte has shown his love not only to the people of the first district of Samar, but the entire province. Our dream is now a reality,” Sarmiento added.
The establishment of Samar Island Medical Center is just one of the four laws signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on April 19, seeking to establish and upgrade local hospitals in the country.
The newly-signed measures establish the Southern Luzon Multi-Specialty Medical Center in Tayabas City, Ilocos Sur Medical Center in Candon City, and Dr. Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center in Cabanatuan City.
Other principal authors of the bill were House Majority Leader and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez of Tingog Party-list, House Committee on Health Chair and Quezon Province Rep. Angelina Tan, Northern Samar 1st district Rep. Paul Daza, Northern Samar 2nd district Rep. Jose Ong Jr. and Parañaque City Rep. Eric Olivarez.
The principal authors of the Senate counterpart bill were Senators Christopher Go, Francis Pangilinan, Ramon Revilla Jr., Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Franklin Drilon. (PNA)
