House committee okays upgrading Bogo hospital

CEBU – In approving House Bill No. 2879, the House Committee on Appropriations has pushed for the immediate implementation of the upgrading and modernization of the Severo Verallo Memorial District Hospital in Bogo City.

House committee on appropriation chairman Rep. Edcel Lagman said that House Bill No. 2879 introduced by Cebu fourth district Rep. Benhur Salimbangon was already approved by the House Committee on Appropriations for funding in its meeting last May 28, 2008.

The Bill provides for the upgrade and modernization as well as increase the bed capacity of the Severo Verallo Memorial District Hospital from 50 to 100.

Salimbangon said he is thankful for the action of the Committee and hopes that the hospital in his district would soon help decongest patients at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City.

The Committee inserted in the provision the increase in the bed capacity of the Severo Verallo Memorial District Hospital from that shall be implemented for a period of not more than two years from the approval of the Act.

Another provision inserted states that the Secretary of Health shall immediately include in the Department’s Programs the operationalization of the Severo Verallo Memorial District Hospital, the funding of which shall be included in the Annual General Appropriations Act.

The local government concerned shall continue to provide funding for the hospital until it is funded in the Annual General Appropriations Act, the bill further states.

The said hospital in Bogo City is currently managed by the provincial government of Cebu.

But when Salimbangon assumed office last year, he worked closely with the provincial government and signed a memorandum of agreement between the Department of Health official for the upgrade and modernization as well as the increase of bed capacity of the hospital.

Salimbangon hopeful that the hospital would get the necessary funding in the 2009 General Appropriations Act. — Gregg M. Rubio/BRP (THE FREEMAN)