Region 8 eyes NEDA board’s approval of hospital modernization project

TACLOBAN CITY, Aug. 15 (PNA) – The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) regional office here is optimistic of the approval by the NEDA Board of the PHP 2.4 billion fund for the modernization of the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC).

NEDA Eastern Visayas Regional Director Bonifacio Uy said the NEDA Board, chaired by President Rodrigo Duterte, will convene soon to approve 10 projects worth PHP300 billion endorsed on August 4 by the Cabinet-level Investment Coordination Committee (ICC).

One of these projects is the PHP2.4-billion modernization of the state-run EVRMC, the region’s end referral hospital.

NEDA records show that PHP1.79 million of the proposed fund will come from the national government, PHP350 million grant from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and PHP 250 million will be donated by Bloomberry Cultural Foundation, Inc. The project is expected to be completed by end-May 2017.

“The project has been favorably evaluated and endorsed by the NEDA regional and central offices. 

This is one of the proposed interventions under the post-Yolanda rehabilitation and reconstruction plan to build back better the health facilities in Eastern Visayas," Uy said.

The NEDA board is composed of the President as chairman, the secretary of Socio-economic planning and NEDA Director-General as vice-chairman, and the following as members - the executive secretary and the secretaries of finance, trade and industry, agriculture, environment and natural resources, 

public works and highways, budget and management, labor and employment, and interior and local government.

“As regional referral center, modernizing EVRMC will improve quality health services to the people of Region 8, ensure resiliency in times of disasters, enhance health outcomes, and achieve equity in healthcare in the region,” Uy added.

Part of the EVRMC modernization program is to transfer the entire facility from the city center to a storm surge-safe area in Cabalawan village. The transfer started this year and will be completed in 2018.

Its new site, which is about 10 kilometers from Tacloban City proper, is situated along the national highway and close to San Juanico Bridge — making it more accessible to the three Samar provinces.

There is an ongoing construction for a new six-storey hospital and ancillary building in the new site.

It has a total floor area of 30,000 square meters with 420-bed service wards and 180-bed private rooms.

The modernization program is expected to enhance the quality of services of the medical center, improve health outcomes, and achieve equity in access to healthcare in the region. (PNA)
JSV/SQM