Health workers oppose sale of Mental Hospital

The Alliance of Health Workers (AHW) held a rally yesterday at the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH) in Mandaluyong City to denounce the government’s plan to sell the land occupied by the hospital.

AHW national president Emma Manuel and NCMH Employees Association president Ernesto Espinosa said in a joint statement that the land and a residential lot near the hospital called Welfareville Compound would be sold by the government.

The plan to sell the land, which is about 110 hectares, will result in the displacement of 2,000 health workers, the abandonment of 4,000 in-patients and 6,000 out-patients of the NCMH, and the displacement of 15,000 residents of Welfareville.

The health workers said the government had been trying to sell the land of the hospital since 2003, but was prevented by the health workers association and the Welfareville residents. — Sandy Araneta