Cebu wants to emulate P’sinan best health practices

LINGAYEN, Philippines – Even Cebu, the premier province in the country led by Gov. Hilario Davide III, wants to emulate the best practices of Pangasinan led by Gov. Amado Espino Jr., particularly on healthcare.

Last Tuesday, an 11-man Cebu delegation led by Davide arrived in Pangasinan for a two-day study tour.

The delegation, which included Cebu second district Rep. Wilfredo Caminero, board member Peter Calderon, and eight health officers, visited the capitol complex here, the Western Pangasinan District Hospital, Dasol Community Hospital, Pangasinan Provincial Hospital, Urdaneta District Hospital, and Balungao Rural Health Center. 

“We hope to learn from the provincial government of Pangasinan how it has efficiently managed to run its hospitals,” said Davide during a courtesy call at the provincial capitol.

Davide, a first-term governor, said his administration’s priority is healthcare and yet they have been receiving complaints on the weak and slow delivery of healthcare services by their public hospitals.

“Most patients, especially those having serious cases, have to be brought to Cebu City,” he said.

Thus he said they want to learn from Pangasinan, which has among “the best-ran hospitals in the country.”

Espino said, “We are very happy to receive their delegation... at least, some people are appreciating the things we do in the province.”

Dr. Anna Ma. Theresa de Guzman, chief of the provincial health office, said Cebu is the seventh province since 2011 which looked into the best healthcare practices of the province. The others include Capiz, Cagayan, Quirino, Ilocos Sur, and Bukidnon.