City dad urges mayor to use credit in banks to build city hospital

By Dolly Yasa

 

BACOLOD City – Bacolod Councilor Wilson Gamboa asked Mayor Evelio Leonardia to consider using available credit in banks in building a public hospital here.

The appeal was contained in a resolution passed in this week’s session of the Sanggunian Panlungsod and already referred to the Committee on Finance.

Gamboa said that last Nov 26, 2018 the SP authorized Leonardia to sign a P1.7-billion loan agreement with the Development Bank of the Philippines and the same was ratified on Dec 10, 2018.

He also said that on Aug 16, 2019, Leonardia led the signing of the loan agreement that was to fund four flagship projects – P800-million construction of Bacolod MassKara Coliseum with outdoor arena; P350-million development of Progreso Village Relocation Site; P350-million Bacolod City College Site Development and Facilities; and P200-million construction of roads and bridges.

“There is still available credit line for the City of Bacolod to be availed of,” Gamboa said.

He pointed out that Bacolod City is one of the most populated cities in the country with 561,875 residents, based on the 2015 national census.

“With only six private hospitals and one tertiary government hospital that has a 400-bed capacity and serves a daily average of 724 patients from the whole province, the hospitals now in the city are overwhelmed after catering to Covid-19 patients from mild to moderate cases, leaving severe and critical patients behind,” he added.

Bacolod City should be self-reliant in its health services since major public hospitals cannot fully accommodate our constituents, Gamboa said.

Gamboa also said that last Oct 19, 2020, the Senate Committee on Health and Demography already approved House Bill 6731 authored by Representative Greg Gasataya, along with Senate Bill 1647, which was filed by Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, establishing the Bacolod City General Hospital.

He further said that even with the Senate approval establishing the Bacolod City General Hospital bills, there is no guarantee of funds for the construction since the priority of the National Government is the Covid-19 pandemic assistance and its impact to the economy.