ILOILO CITY – President Duterte signed Republic Act (RA) No. 11891 creating the Iloilo City Hospital before stepping down last June 30.
Under RA 11891, “the City Government of Iloilo shall manage the ICH, and prepare, in consultation with the Department of Health (DOH), a hospital development plan aligned with the Philippine Health Facility Development Plan.”
The law stipulates a budget of P500 million for the hospital’s capital outlay. This will be included in the
DOH budget under the 2023 General Appropriations Act.
“This will surely complement the existing nine licensed hospitals,” said Iloilo City Rep. Julienne “Jamjam” Baronda, the main author of the law.
Baronda’s bill had counterparts in the Senate, including those sponsored by incoming Senate President Juan Miguel “Migz” Zubiri and Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go.
The 200-bed hospital is set to be constructed in Barangay San Pedro, Molo District.
Mayor Jerry Treñas here pitched the need to create a new hospital. He said it aims to decongest the number of patients going to both private hospitals and the two-government run hospitals in Iloilo City, the regional capital of Western Visayas or Region 6.
“Aside from this, the creation of the Iloilo City Hospital opens a myriad of socio-economic benefits such as more job opportunities, and a livelier business environment,” added Baronda.