GMA opens poor man’s hospital in Agoo

President Arroyo flew to La Union recently to unveil the marker and witness the formal handover to the provincial government of the La Union Provincial Hospital, a 25-building, four hectare complex funded by the European Commission of the European Union.

Touted as one of the most modern government hospitals in the country and completed after more than two years, the 13.5 euro (or approximately P650 million) hospital complex is envisioned to provide quality health care to the rural poor, particularly in this town, which was one of the worst hit by the 1990 earthquake.

The handover ceremony was between Ambassador and Head of the European Commission Yves Gazzo and Health Secretary Manuel Dayrit on one end, and La Union Gov. Victor Ortega witnessed by Agoo Mayor Eufranio Eriquel on the receiving end and Ambassador Ronald Van Remole.

Key local government and health officials and representatives from the project consultant Tractebel-Chema-Search (TCS) Consortium and Philippine contractor F. Gutierrez-Pajara Joint Venture also witnessed the ceremony.

This "gift" from the European Commission also included about P160-million worth of the latest, top-of-the-line medical, diagnostic and laboratory machines supplied by Vamed Engineering of Austria and Tsaote of Italy, both leading and highly reputed manufacturers in Europe.