P1B needed to complete hospital extension project

By Felipe V. Celino 

 

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – Some P1 billion is needed to complete the five-story Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital (RMPH) extension in Brgy. Lanot here.

This was the assessment of Engr. Edwin Villasis, assistant provincial engineer, as to the status of the hospital project which began during the term of former governor Victor Tanco Sr in 2012.

Villasis said the original estimated cost of the building was P750 million and the P474.8 million allocated by the Department of Health (DOH) was already spent on the half-finished project.

Villasis said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) spent P109.8 million on Phases 3, 4 and 5 of the project.

The Provincial Engineers Office (PEO) spent another P265 million on Phases 1, 2, and 6.

“There are no major revisions on the original plans of the project, but it needs P300 million to fully finish the building,” Villasis added.

Last year, no budget was allocated to the project and it was only this year that Governor Esteban Evan Contreras got P100 million budget from the national government that will be used to finance and finish the interiors on the ground floor and 2nd floor of the hospital.

Villasis said the office area will be on the ground floor while the second floor is allocated for the laboratories, pharmacy and 50-bed ward section.

He said that the governor wants the ground and 2nd floors of the building to be finished before end-2021.

Villasis assured that all necessary papers and documents like the Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources(DENR), were completed.

The new hospital building has a water treatment facility, a morgue, motor pool, three elevators, viewing area on the rooftop, restaurants, and gym on the fifth floor.

Once completed, this will be the biggest government hospital in Western Visayas.