CAPIZ — The Department of Health (DOH) has committed an initial P100 million allocation to jumpstart the construction of the proposed 100-bed Capiz General Hospital in this municipality.
The Level II hospital will be built on a 1.2-hectare property in Pontevedra and is envisioned to expand access to hospital services for residents of northern and eastern Capiz and nearby areas.
The funding commitment was finalized during a high-level strategic planning session led by Capiz Gov. Fredenil H. Castro and attended by senior health officials, including Dr. Mar Wynn Bello of the DOH Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH WV CHD), Engr. Dubhe Lynn Guarnes of DOH Region VI, Capiz Provincial Health Officer Dr. Alex T. Nolasco and Dr. Mary Joy D. Castroverde of the Capiz Provincial DOH Office.
Under the implementation roadmap, the Capiz Provincial Government will serve as the primary executing entity responsible for construction, infrastructure delivery and long-term management of the facility.
The hospital site was secured through the legislative initiative of Capiz 1st District Rep. Ivan Howard A. Guintu, who pushed for the establishment of the facility to address healthcare gaps in the district.
The project partners are working on a three-phase legal framework involving a Letter of Intent (LOI), Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and Deed of Donation.
The LOI will formalize the public interest and zoning designation of the 1.2-hectare property, while the MOA will define the governance responsibilities, funding tranches and institutional roles of the DOH and the provincial government.
The Deed of Donation will formally transfer ownership of the property to the provincial government.
At present, residents of municipalities in central and eastern Capiz, including Panay, Pilar, Maayon and President Roxas, often travel to Roxas City for major medical services.
Once operational, the 100-bed Level II hospital is expected to provide emergency services, surgical facilities, inpatient care and specialized outpatient services closer to these communities.
Its location in Pontevedra could also make the facility accessible to residents of nearby northern Iloilo municipalities, including Balasan, Carles and Estancia, particularly those requiring urgent medical attention.
The hospital project forms part of the province’s efforts to improve healthcare infrastructure and expand hospital bed capacity in coordination with the DOH and other government agencies./PN
