By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD City – Re-elected Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya said the construction of the Bacolod City General Hospital in Brgy. Vista Alegre, Bacolod City is expected to start July 2022.
Gasataya said the Department of Health must resolve a technical observation before the construction could start.
The DOH has suggested that the City Health Office should not be constructed side by side with the hospital within the 3.5-hectare property since the function of the hospital is curative in nature while that of the CHO is preventive.
It was suggested that instead of the CHO constructed within the hospital complex, what should be established are ancillary and support services of the hospital such as the dialysis center, molecular laboratory and other services needed by the facility.
“The DOH believes that the CHO should not be part of the hospital complex to allow room for expansion in the future,” Gasataya pointed out.
Even the Gensoli family believes that the purpose of their donating the property is primarily for the construction of the hospital, the solon said.
Gasataya said he suggested that the DOH and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) come up with their proposals for the design of the hospital complex which he will then present to the incoming administration for its assessment and evaluation
The DPWH had conducted the bidding or the construction of the dietary building, morgue, linen and laundry services and the land development of the property amounting to P200 million, while the construction of the hospital building will cost P250 million.
Gasataya, who authored the law creating the hospital, met with officials of the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) this week on the scope of work under Phase 1, and on the equipment and facilities needed.
Gasataya said he wants the hospital to be fully equipped to better serve Bacolodnons.
Initial funding for the BCGH is P600 million.
The Senate bill for the establishment of the Bacolod City Hospital was authored by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri.
