BY ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
ASIDE FROM the Bacolod City General Hospital (BCGH) which is to be constructed next year, Lone District’s Rep. Greg Gasataya has another one to show-off. This is the Bacolod-Negros Heart and Kidney Center (BNHKC).
House Bill 2686 aimed at establishing BNHKC is now up for second reading. Gasataya, however, is thankful that his colleagues in the House’s Committee on Health already gave him an assurance of support for his resolution.
In June, Gasataya was elated when President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law Republic Act 11564 purposely for the construction of BCGH. With the initial P250-million budget, Gasataya believed this could be a big help for the city to have its very own hospital.
Sen. Migz Zubiri also promised another P200-million for BCGH construction. The project is about to commence next year.
On record, Gasataya then is the very first solon of Bacolod to put-up this city-owned hospital. If in case this BNHKC will also be realized sooner, it could be another plus factor for Gasataya. Two major projects and both are closest to man’s anatomy. And both will be Gasataya’s indelible legacy that even future generations will stand to benefit.
‘LAKI SA HIRAP’
Why BCGH and BNHKC?
Gasataya like an ordinary being was also “laki sa hirap”. Everybody knows his father was just a jeepney driver. His entry to Bombo Radyo as reporter/anchorman brightened up his horizons to dream bigger. And when opportunity knocked for him to be a politician, he grabbed it sans hesitation.
He started as councilor, then vice mayor and now as second-termer congressman. And when he had a chance to further his dreams, he didn’t hesitate to venture in proposing the BCGH, and BNHKC. He knew how hard for less fortunate people to seek medical treatment in public hospitals.
Moreover, Gasataya also knew that a lot of Bacolodnons were already suffering from heart and kidney ailments. Going to Manila or other key cities to seek for treatment is quite taxing. Thus, he believes that it’s better for Bacolod to also have this heart and kidney center.
PRO-PEOPLE
These two projects are considered to be pro-people. Sans “palabra de honor,” both are meant to aid Bacolodnons or even Negrosanons in time of health crisis.
The proposal per se of BCGH was not so easy. It passed through a lot of debates. As far as I know, Greg really needed to use his “charms” in convincing others or some of his colleagues on how important BCGH at the height of the pandemic.
Moreover, he says that Bacolod being a fast-booming city really needs a hospital of its own.
For now, some cannot appreciate yet, but once these projects will be realized, I am pretty sure they will thank Gasataya forever and ever. So win or lose in next year’s elections, one thing for sure Greg is happy to see his “kasimanwas” enjoying and benefitting his projects.
OTHER NOTABLE MEASURES
Meanwhile, unknown to some, Gasataya has other notable measures in the House of Representatives that if granted later, a lot benefit not just Bacolodnons but Negrosanons as well.
These include:
* House Bill No. 02694 – An act establishing a University of the Philippines (UP) Campus in Bacolod City.
* House Bill No. 00568. – An act granting scholarship s to persons with disabilities (PWDs) and their children.
* House Bill No. 00571 – An act establishing a Commission on Higher Education (CHED) in the Lone District of Bacolod and Province of Negros Occidental.
* House Bill No.00573 – An act to recruit, hire and train additional university-based mental health personnel.
* House Bill No. 00575 – An act establishing a Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) in Bacolod City.
* House Bill No. 02689 – An act exempting senior citizens and persons with disabilities from travel tax.
* House Bill No. 02692 – An act providing for security of tenure and benefits for casual, contractual, and job order employees for the government.
In sum, Gasataya is just silent. Probably, the solon is not fond of fanfare.
But having a total 195 proposed measures all meant for the benefit and goodness of constituents are manifestations that, indeed, he is not remiss of his obligation as legislator./PN
