PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan – Top officials of the Department of Health (DOH) met with provincial and city health officials on Wednesday to iron out the details of a new medical facility that will soon rise in Barangay Irawan here.
The new hospital is made possible by the Senate Finance Committee’s approval last year of a PHP100-million budget for the initial phase of a multi-specialty hospital project in Palawan.
During his meeting with local officials on Wednesday, DOH Assistant Secretary Ariel Valencia outlined plans for the new healthcare center, highlighting that the envisioned facility will rise on a piece of land that is owned by the provincial government.
He said the multi-specialty medical center is intended to be a comprehensive healthcare facility, featuring care units for immediate medical attention, advanced diagnostic services for accurate illness detection, and state-of-the-art equipment accessible to specialists.
"This is for the people… the plan includes urgent care so we will provide diagnostic facilities to ensure our fellow citizens receive healthcare services. There will also be specialists and equipment," Valencia said.
He said state-of-the-art facilities are purposefully integrated into the center's design with the objective of significantly improving the quality and accessibility of healthcare services for residents in the surrounding area.
For his part, Palawan Board Member Ryan Maminta said the funds approved by the Senate will be drawn from the Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the DOH, as stipulated in the General Appropriations Act of 2023.
The development followed after Maminta submitted a resolution to the provincial board, appealing to Senator Juan Edgardo Angara through 2nd District Palawan Rep. Jose Alvarez, for the earmarking of funds to build the hospital.
Aside from Valencia and Maminta, also at the meeting were DOH-Mimaropa Regional Director Mario Baquilod, provincial health officer Dr. Faye Labrador and other city health officials as well as hospital administrators. (PNA)
