The Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) signed a P760-million term loan agreement with Allied Care Experts (ACE) Medical Center - Pangasinan, Inc. to boost the hospital chain's capacity.
ACE Medical Center, a nationwide network of hospitals, will use the loan to construct a seven-storey hospital building in Pangasinan and acquire various medical machinery and equipment.
Their goal is to improve the bed to population ratio in the Pangasinan area from 1:1,019 to 1:930 while providing first-grade treatment and management for patients with advanced medical equipment and top-notch medical professionals.
Founded by a group of doctors led by Chairman Dr. Amado Manuel C. Enriquez, Jr., ACE established its first branch in Subic Baypointe in 2011.
The company now operates nine branches across the country.
“DBP would continue to support initiatives that improve the delivery of quality health care services to our countrymen,” says DBP President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel G. Herbosa.
“Companies such as ACE Medical Center perform a critical role in the country’s efforts to emerge victorious from the current public health emergency,” he added.
The 102-bed medical center is expected to benefit the residents of Dagupan City and nearby municipalities of Lingayen, Binmaley, Calasiao, Mangaldan, Manaoag, Mapandan, San Fabian, San Jacinto, and Santa Barbara with a total population of about 700,000, noted DBP Executive Vice President for Development Lending Jose Gabino D. Dimayuga.
The medical center would establish various clinical departments and modern diagnostic and imaging facilities as well as special areas such as operating room, recovery room, medical and neurological intensive care units (ICU), neonatal ICU, pediatric ICU, labor room, delivery room, oncology unit, dialysis and eye centers,
“Under the agreement, the medical center would also be equipped with a cardiac catherization laboratory and kidney transplant operation facilities, which is a first for the Ilocos Region,” Dimayuga pointed out.
“Residents in the area need not travel to Metro Manila or nearby provinces to seek first-class medical attention.”