CEBU, Philippines — A new medical facility that will provide pediatric care in northern Cebu is set to rise in the town of Liloan, Cebu.
This, after Deputy Speaker and Cebu 5th district Representative Duke Frasco led the groundbreaking ceremony of the Liloan Children’s Hospital in Brgy. Cotcot on July 29.
Once operational, the facility will provide services for children, from emergency care, general care, outpatient, specialized prenatal and pediatric care, to nutrition counseling, health awareness programs, immunization, and educational training for parenting, among others.
Frasco, who initiated the development of the facility, said it is a dream come true for him as this was his brainchild project when he was still a mayor of Liloan in 2007.
“This hospital is a commitment to our children’s health and well-being. We are investing in our children’s health and, ultimately, in the future of our community. As we break ground today, we look forward to the day when this hospital opens its doors and begins its vital mission,” he said during the groundbreaking ceremony.
His commitment to this vision over the years continued as he became the congressman of the 5th District of Cebu in 2019.
Recognizing the need for a dedicated healthcare facility for children in Cebu and the Visayas, Frasco filed House Bill No. 8274 during his first year as congressman.
The bill was successfully passed and signed into law as Republic Act No. 11886 on June 29, 2022, laying the foundation for the establishment of the hospital.
To recall, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, during the first State of the Nation Address, emphasized the need for decentralizing specialty hospitals from Luzon and establishing them in the Visayas and Mindanao regions.
“The Liloan Children’s Hospital embodies this vision and reflects the ongoing commitment of equitable healthcare access all throughout the country,” Frasco said.
“The new facility is set to become a cornerstone of pediatric care, not only for Liloan but for the Province of Cebu and the Visayas and Mindanao region,” Frasco said.
Department of Health (DOH) Regional Director Jaime Bernadas, Liloan Mayor Aljew Frasco, Compostela Mayor Jury Quin?o, and other officials of Liloan and Compostela were also present during the groundbreaking.
Frasco added that this project aligns with a broader national vision for the country. — (FREEMAN)