Gwen pledges 100-bed hospital for Balamban

CEBU, Philippines – Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia assured residents of Balamban town that the 100-bed Balamban Provincial District Hospital will become a 100-bed facility during her administration.

Garcia made the assurance in a visit to Balamban yesterday during which the province and the municipality also signed a memorandum of agreement for the donation of a lot.

“Kining 100-bed capacity will become a reality. I will see to it that this promise will be fulfilled in this administration,” Garcia said.

Also with Garcia were Vice Governor Gregorio Sanchez Jr., Balamban Mayor Esteban Binghay, Vice Mayor Ace Binghay and officials of the town.

Integrated Provincial Health Office chief Cristina Giango said the newly upgraded hospital will provide relief to patients who cannot travel to Cebu City, even those from Balamban’s neighbouring towns. 

Garcia thanked the Tsuneshi Industries for helping upgrade the district hospital into a provincial facility.

The upgrading of existing district hospitals into provincial hospitals has an allocation of P50 million in the 2005 annual budget, and another P50 million in the recently- approved budget for 2006.

The province also outsourced personnel to fill in vacancies for the provincial hospitals, a technique that Garcia said hits two birds with one stone because it solves the problem of lack of personnel while saving money for Capitol.

Garcia said outsourcing personnel would save the province the headache of dealing with absentees or personnel on leave because the same would be addressed by the contractor.

There are 18 district hospitals under the supervision of Capitol, some of which would soon have air-conditioned rooms for patients who can afford.

The province is building private air-conditioned rooms in district hospitals to cater to those who can afford to pay. — Garry B. Lao/JMO  (THE FREEMAN)