DOH holds new bid on Fabella hospital deal

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Health is bidding out anew a contract to build the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital at its new site in the DOH compound in Sta. Cruz, Manila, an official said yesterday.

The first bidding was held in March but it was declared a failure because no bidders qualified. The new pre-bid conference was set on June 11.

DOH Undersecretary Ted Herbosa said a total of P750 million in “approved budget for contract” was earmarked for the project under the General Appropriations Act (GAA).

 â€œIt’s a nine-story building and we will build the first five floors. It will be on the parking lot at the back of the DOH compound,” said Herbosa, who is also the chair of DOH-Central Office Bids and Awards Committee.

He said the DOH-run hospital would have to transfer from its present site in Sta. Cruz, Manila as the lot where it currently stands on is not owned by the department.

“The present hospital is so old and the land may be privatized. The land is owned either by the Bureau of Prisons or the city of Manila. I’m not sure but it’s not ours. So we decided not to rebuild that, but transfer to a new site,” Herbosa said.