BACOLOD City – The Sangguniang Panlungsod here passed a resolution supporting Senate Bill (SB) No. 1647, which seeks to establish a tertiary hospital in this city to be known as the “Bacolod City General Hospital” (BGCH).
Councilor Al Victor Espino, author of the resolution, said SB 1647 aims to promote the right of the constituents of this city to health by providing them adequate medical needs and facilities.
“Considering the influx of patients in both public and private hospitals in this city, the creation of BCGH will help decongest the inflow of patients admitted or treated,” he added.
Introduced by Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri, SB 1647 is the counterpart of House Bill No. 6731 authored by Cong. Greg Gasataya.
Last month, the House of Representatives approved Gasataya’s bill on third and final reading.
“The bill aims for the establishment of a new hospital for the Bacolodnons,” Gasataya stressed, saying the Department of Health is willing to allocate the funds once the bill becomes a law.
Mayor Evelio Leonardia, for his part, appealed to Zubiri to work on the maximum participation of the national government in the establishment of the hospital, including its maintenance and operation.
“We would prefer the national government to fund this project because it would be burdensome for the local government. We would like to lessen the expenses of the city,” said Leonardia.
In response, Zubiri assured the mayor he would amend the bill and allocate a budget for it next year./PN
