ILOILO — The national government has committed funding for the construction of a dedicated Mother and Child Unit at the Iloilo Provincial Hospital (IPH) in Pototan town, a major health infrastructure project aimed at expanding access to specialized maternal and pediatric care for Ilonggo families.
Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. confirmed that a coordination meeting was held Thursday morning, January 8, involving officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Department of Health, the Iloilo provincial government, and 3rd District’s Cong. Lorenz Defensor to finalize plans and design details for the new facility at the provincial capitol.
Discussions centered on the building’s design, layout, and required amenities to ensure compliance with national health standards and the delivery of specialized services.
“They meet earlier with the DPWH and they have a funding for that. They will start the construction,” Defensor said.
The governor explained that the project will be funded by the national government through the efforts of his brother, Cong. Defensor, and will be built on property acquired by the provincial government specifically for the expansion of the Iloilo Provincial Hospital.
Defensor said locating the Mother and Child Unit at IPH makes strategic sense, as the hospital serves as the province’s central referral facility, noting that it is not feasible to equip all district hospitals with highly specialized healthcare services.
Cong. Defensor, for his part, said he pushed for national funding after recognizing the urgent need to improve maternal and pediatric healthcare in the province.
“I want to build this para may (healthcare) access ang women and children. Panamion ta guid ang healthcare sa Iloilo, sa tanan nga districts,” he said.
Targeted for completion in 2028, the IPH Mother and Child Unit is expected to significantly boost the hospital’s capacity to provide safe, specialized, and patient-centered care for mothers, infants, and children — reducing referrals outside Iloilo and bringing critical services closer to Ilonggo communities./PN
