Dialysis clinic, party-list bring services to Lapu-Lapu

CEBU, Philippines — A private dialysis clinic will soon be put up in Lapu-Lapu City just in time of the closure of Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center-Renal Division next month.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan, in a press conference Monday, said that this dialysis clinic which is now under construction can accommodate up to 30 dialysis machines.

“But in the meantime, mga 10 to 20 dialysis machines sa ang mo-operate. Sakto gyud ni igo mahuman inig sirado sa dialysis center sa VSMMC,” said the mayor.

Of the 300 renal patients at VSMMC, 27 of these are from Lapu-Lapu City.

Department of Health-7 regional director Jaime Bernadas earlier said that these patients will be referred to other government hospitals such as the provincial government hospitals of Cebu Province and the Cebu City government.

Bernadas added that those who will not be accommodated to these government hospitals will be referred to some private dialysis clinics and arrangement are ongoing to ensure that their treatment is shouldered by the government.

The current renal center, Bernadas said, will be demolished to pave the way for the construction of a new building that is expected to be completed in the next 18 months.

Meanwhile, the national government, through Tingog Partylist, is putting up an Alagang Tingog Center Satellite Office in Lapu-Lapu City as one way of bringing public service closer to the people.

This will be located at the sport complex inside the City Hall compound.

Chan said the presence of the satellite office would be a big help for the city’s constituents who will ask for financial, medical, burial, livelihood, and educational assistance.

“Makaingon man sab ang mga Oponganon ani nga wa sila nagmahay nga ilang gibotaran ang Tingog Party-List pag miaging eleksyon kay milingi gayud sila ug mibalos pinaagi sa paghatag og serbisyo ngadto sa tanan nga mga misuporta kanila,” the mayor said, in his Facebook post.

Aside from the opening of their satellite office, the different group/organizations in the city conducted free services like the Tingog sa Kababayen-an who have Libreng Syakoy, Lugaw and other delicacies in the city.

Ang Tingog sa LGBT also conducted Libreng Haircut, Libreng Facial, Libreng Massage, among others while the Tingog sa PWD also rendered some entertainment.

Another Alagang Tingog Center satellite office in Cebu was officially inaugurated on Sunday located at the second floor of City Time Square in Mandaue City, Cebu.

In her Facebook post, Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez said that since 2019, Tingog Party-list has been providing services to Cebuanos, such as assistance distribution and relief operations, and hopes that the newly-opened office will serve as a vessel to expand the organization's presence throughout the city.

Presidential Assistant for the Visayas, Undersecretary Terence Calatrava; Lapu-Lapu City Lone District Rep. Cindi Chan, Tingog Party-list regional chairperson for the Visayas Happy Calatrava, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes, Sibonga Mayor Lionel Bacaltos, Toledo City Mayor Marjorie Perales, Tuburan Mayor Democrito Diamante Jr., San Fernando Mayor Mytha Ann Canoy, Borbon Mayor Noel Dotillos, Argao Mayor Allan Sesaldo, Moalboal Mayor Inocentes Cabaron, Asturias Mayor Dana Andrew Dumdum, Tabogon Mayor Francis Edward Salimbangon, Carmen Mayor Carlo Villamor, Alegria Mayor Gilberto Magallon, Carcar City Mayor Mario Patricio Barcenas, and Mayor Chan graced the said event. (FREEMAN)