No more problems in north hospital

The Provincial Engineering Office (PEO) assured that all problems raised last week on the Northern Palawan Provincial Hospital in Taytay were already addressed.

Board Member Gil Acosta questioned on June 8 the status of the hospital weeks after its inauguration. He specifically pointed that the gravels stacked in the building’s entrance and the portion of the pavement which was already raised from the ground.

The hospital was funded with a portion of the province’s share from the Malampaya gas proceeds. The PEO clarified that, contrary to earlier reports that the construction of the hospital was worth P100 million, only P94 million was allotted to it: P80 million for the construction and P14 million for the equipment.

During the Provincial Board’s regular session June 15, the PEO said that the problems were already fixed but that they should immediately start the drainage system. BCT Construction, the project’s contractor, added that they had also worked to rectify the damages.

BCT Construction also insisted that the hospital was safe because most of the materials used were rock.

 “The problem now is only the drainage system. We will ask the local government unit of Taytay or the contractor to help us with the drainage system,” Engr. Colegio of the PEO said.

The Northern Palawan Provincial Hospital is located on a hilly area which would require a good drainage system especially that the rainy season had already started, according to the PEO.

Asked whether the hospital had secured an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) from the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the PEO said that it has none as of the moment.

“The release of the ECC was delayed because of what happened with Taytay-Rural Health Unit (RHU),” Colegio said referring to the landslide which occurred in Taytay last year that killed six health workers.

The PEO, however, informed the Provincial Board that the DENR had sent a composite team to inspect the hospital area. They also assured that what happened with the RHU will not happen with the hospital, pointing that the back of the hospital was composed of solid rocks.

The one-hectare land where the hospital was erected was originally owned by Taytay incoming mayor Evelyn Rodriguez. Rodriguez donated it to the Provincial Government so that a hospital could be placed in their municipality.

Dr. Eduardo Cruz, head of the Provincial Health Office, also informed the Board that the Northern Palawan Provincial Hospital would start its operation sometime in July.

“As soon as the documents are okay and the equipment were already transferred and delivered, it would start operating,” Dr. Cruz said.

“This hospital is bigger than the Southern Palawan Provincial Hospital in Brooke’s Point. It was constructed because we are targeting better medical service to the Palaweños,” he added.

   

North hospital put under question

The Northern Palawan Provincial Hospital in Taytay was put under criticism when first district Board Member Gil Acosta questioned the structure during the Provincial Board’s regular session June 8.

The hospital, which was funded with P100 million from the province’s Malampaya money and inaugurated only last month, was still not in operation and already has damages, according to Acosta.

He even showed pictures of gravel piled in front of the hospital’s entrance and part of the pavement which was slightly raised from the ground.

“I hope our money would not be wasted with this hospital,” Acosta said, adding that the local finance committee should appear before the Board for questioning.

“We should conduct an investigation on this matter for us to know if the contractor was already paid,” Acosta pointed. He said he did not know the contractor of the project but heard that it was BCT Trading and Construction although he said he had to check it.

Board Member Edmundo Balerite, a Taytay resident, agreed that an investigation should be done. He claimed, however, that he had not seen the hospital since its inauguration.

“The building itself was already completed (with equipment) but the pavement is not yet finished,” Balerite said.

Acosta also raised concerns with the location of the hospital, which was erected near a hill. He pointed that a landslide might occur, posing danger to hospital patients and staff.

Vice-Gov. David Ponce de Leon, on the other hand, stressed that it was the local government unit of Taytay who chose the location.

The one-hectare land where the hospital stands was originally owned by Taytay incoming mayor Evelyn Rodriguez but had already donated it to the Provincial Government.

“The choice of the hospital site was the decision of the local government of Taytay. They were the ones who chose it,” Ponce de Leon pointed.

Board Member Vicky de Guzman, on the other hand, encouraged the Provincial Environmental Officer to come up with a geo-hazard map of Palawan “to make sure that infrastructure projects are constructed in safe areas.”

The Provincial Engineering Officer, Provincial Health Officer, Provincial Environmental Officer, municipal officials of Taytay and the contractor are due for questioning next week.