Bacolod lawmaker asks DOH chief’s help to address COVID upsurge

By Dolly Yasa

BACOLOD City –Lone district Rep. Greg Gasataya requested Health Secretary Francisco Duque III for additional help from the Department of Health (DOH) in addressing the upsurge in COVID-19 cases here.

Gasataya said he wrote Duque requesting for DOH’s assistance in addressing the problem of hospital occupancy which has reached critical level.

He said they need to hire additional health workers and other assistance they can provide to the city.

Gasataya said he hopes that the construction of the Bacolod City General Hospital will be implemented in 2022 using the P250-million budget from the 2022 National Expenditure Program (NEP) under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) of the DOH.

He said he met with representatives of the DOH and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on his request for technical assistance for the establishment of the Bacolod City General Hospital (BCGH).

He cited the needed paper work which he has requested from the DOH Central Office, as well as technical help in the selection of the site for the hospital.

He said the meeting was very productive while a second coordination meeting is set next week.

Gasataya said he will invite other agencies and government offices in preparation for the implementation of the law establishing the BCGH in Bacolod City.

President Rodrigo Duterte signed last June 24 Republic Act (RA) 11564, creating the Bacolod City General Hospital and appropriating funds for its establishment.

Aside from the P250-million budget in the 2022 NEP, which is now in the House, Senator Juan Miguel Zubiri also committed to find other sources starting with P200 million.

House Speaker Lord Allan Velasco also gave his commitment for additional funds.