Ormoc City Hospital construction begins

ORMOC CITY, Philippines – Shortly after the groundbreaking ceremony yesterday, workers started the construction of the 50-bed Ormoc City Hospital intended primarily for indigent patients in this part of Leyte province.

Mayor Eric Codilla, who led the groundbreaking rites, said that about 95 percent of patients in the existing government-run Ormoc District Hospital and three other private hospitals in the city are indigents.

“The soon-to-rise Ormoc City Hospital is a dream come true for the city government, led by then mayor Eufrocino Codilla, Sr., who hatched the plan in 1998 and obviously realized today, so that those who have less in life, in and outside of the city, can avail themselves of full medical services with the least cost,” said Codilla.

The mayor also narrated the difficulty of acquiring the permit because of what he termed as “oppositions” to the project. “I was able to convince Health Secretary Enrique Ona during a side talk in one of his conferences,” he said, recalling his uphill fight to have this project approved by the national government.

Codilla also assured the attending visitors and department heads that he will see to it that the hospital will be operational before his term ends next year. He added that about P60 million to P70 million will be needed to operate the new hospital.

Located at Barangay San Pablo, the hospital will be a 3–level, 4300 square meter floor area building. Its Phase 1 construction, financed by the city government and partly by its internal revenue allotment, will cost P45 million.

DOH-8 director Jaime Bernadas, who attended the groundbreaking rites, told The Freeman that the department has been supporting the city’s health programs, including the hospital construction.

“As of today, Ormoc is a beneficiary of P20 million for health centers, and we will also find ways within the 2012 health budget for the acquisition of medical equipment for the new city hospital,” Bernadas said, adding that Sec. Ona has relayed his support for Codilla’s projects and the people of Ormoc. - THE FREEMAN