Capiz Medical Center begins equipment transfer ahead of opening

ROXAS CITY, Capiz — The provincial government of Capiz has begun transferring medical equipment, supplies and other medical facilities from the old Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital (RMPH) to the new Capiz Medical Center (CMC) in Barangay Lanot, Roxas City, ahead of its planned opening by the end of October.

The new facility is envisioned as a Level III hospital, offering expanded medical services to residents of Capiz and neighboring provinces.

RMPH hospital chief Dr. Florencio Luching said the transfer would continue to ensure that medical equipment and supplies are properly arranged before the hospital opens.

Gov. Fredenil Castro said the Department of Health (DOH) would supervise the new medical facility.

House Bill 377, authored by Capiz 2nd District Rep. Jane Tan Castro, was filed in Congress in June 2025 to convert RMPH into the Capiz Medical Center.

Last month, the Provincial Health Office (PHO), led by Provincial Health Officer II Dr. Ramon Alex Nolasco, coordinated with the Regulatory, Licensing and Enforcement Division of the DOH Center for Health Development-Western Visayas in Iloilo City to process the hospital’s regulatory and licensing requirements.

The coordination aims to ensure that the medical center complies with government regulations and licensing standards before becoming fully operational.

Provincial officials said the facility is expected to strengthen the provincewide health system and expand Capizeños’ access to quality health care services.

The proposed medical center envisions increased bed capacity, expanded diagnostic services, additional medical equipment, residency training programs for doctors and specialized medical services.

The facility is also envisioned as an apex hospital serving Capiz, Aklan, Romblon, Masbate and northern Iloilo.

As an apex hospital, the medical center is expected to handle more complex cases referred by smaller hospitals and health facilities across its intended service area.

Castro said he would not claim sole credit for completing the hospital, emphasizing that the project was made possible through the collective efforts of the people of Capiz since construction began in 2012.

He said his administration happened to oversee the project as it neared completion and became operational, disputing claims suggesting otherwise.

The hospital is currently operating its Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Services (BUCAS) Center following a soft opening, while finishing work on the medical center’s ground floor continues.

The BUCAS Center is part of the DOH’s initiative to improve access to urgent and outpatient medical services while helping reduce congestion in hospital emergency departments.