3 hospitals in CV recipients of P777M assistance project

Three hospitals in Region VII are expected to undergo a major upgrade in terms of equipment and services as these health institutions are among the listed beneficiaries of a P777-million foreign-assisted project.

In a press release of the Department of Interior and Local Government, Cuenco Memorial Hospital in Malabuyoc, Cebu; Garcia Memorial Provincial Hospital in Bohol and Siquijor Provincial Hospital are among the 21 hospitals in the entire country to benefit from the Hospital Assistance Project.

HEAP is a P777.7-million grant from Spain which includes the purchase of diagnostic facilities, equipment for the emergency rooms, operating rooms, pediatric wards, laboratories and intensive care units.

It will entail a counterpart funding from the local government units of about P144 million covering the acquisition of power generators, ambulance, computers and water pumps and the training of hospital staff on the operation and maintenance of the equipment.

Another P107 million will be set as counterpart fund of DILG for the payment of customs duties and taxes on the importation of the hospital equipment.

The P107 million is included in the P50.916-billion budget of the DILG agency.

Under the HEAP project, 203 items totaling 415,000 equipment units will be provided to the 21 hospitals.

These include portable x-rays and accessories, ultrasound, ECG, cardiac monitors, ventilators, defibrillators, incubators, stretchers, nebulizers, fetal dropplers, high speed sterilizers and hospital beds that will be provided to the beneficiary hospital.

"We are hopeful that Spain will continue providing funds for the project, which we are fully backing with a counterpart fund of P107 million with an eye on providing better and more accessible health care services to people in the countryside," according to DILG Secretary Ronaldo Puno.

The other beneficiaries of the HEAP project are mostly provincial hospitals.

These are Abra Provincial Hospital, Ifugao Provincial Hospital, Kalinga Provincial Hospital, Quirino Provincial Hospital, San Jose City Provincial Hospital in Nueva Ecija, Aurora Memorial Hospital, Masbate Provincial Hospital, Iloilo Provincial Hospital, Jose Locsin Memorial Hospital in Silay City, Alfredo Marañon Memorial District Hospital in Sagay, Biliran Provincial Hospital, Zamboanga del Sur Provincial Hospital, Gingoog City Provincial Hospital in Misamis Oriental and Cotabato Provincial Hospital in Kidapawan City. - Ferliza C. Contratista/MEEV