House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Speaker’s office)

House Speaker Martin Romualdez flew out from Davao Friday afternoon, June 7, just in time to lead the groundbreaking of an important "legacy hospital" halfway across the country in Legazpi City, Albay. 

Soon to rise in the city is the 20-story Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center Legacy Building, which Romualdez says "aims to provide people in the provinces with world class health care". 

Bicol solons led by Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, who chairs the House Committee Appropriations; fellow Ako Bicol Rep. Jil Bongalon, and 1-Rider Party-list Rep. Rodge Gutierrez were among the officials who attended the event. 

Romualdez said that as the leader of the House of Representatives, it is his duty make sure that President Marcos Jr.'s visions for Filipinos in terms of public services comes to fruition. Regional specialty hospitals are no exception. 

“Para sa regional specialty hospitals, pangarap ng ating Pangulo na maramdaman din ng mga taga-probinsya ang pag-aalaga sa mga pasyente mula sa mga world-class na ospital tulad nang naitayo ng kanyang ama sa Metro Manila,” he said. 

(For regional specialty hospitals, it's the dream of our President for those in the province to also know how it is to be cared for by world-class hospital like the ones build by his father in Metro Manila.) 

The hospitals that were built during the time of the late former president Marcos Sr. include the Philippine Heart Center, Lung Center and Kidney Center, all located in Quezon City. 

“Kung ano ang nasimulan ng kanyang ama, nais itong dalhin ng ating Pangulo sa malalayong lugar para mas maraming Pilipino ang makinabang,” he added, as if to explain the term "legacy hospital". 

(Our President wants to bring his father's initiative to far-flung places so that more Filipinos will be able to benefit from them.) 

Romualdez was in Tagum City, Davao del Norte earlier Friday to lead the launch of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF). 

Romualdez, Leyte's 1st district representstive, says the groundbreaking for the Bicol Regional Hospital Legacy Building kickstarts the establishment of a specialty center in Albay. 

“Umaasa ako na hindi lamang mga taga-Legazpi o taga-Albay ang makikinabang sa world-class service dito kundi maging lahat ng pasyente sa buong Bicol region,” he said. 

(I expect that not only Legzapi or Albay folk will benefit from this world-class service, but all the patients from the entirety of Bicol.) 

Romualdez told Bicolanos that their legacy building was funded through the efforts of appropriations panel chairman Co. 

“Malinaw po ang utos sa amin ng Pangulo: Tiyakin na may sapat na pondo ang lahat ng proyekto at programang inilaan niya para sa ikabubuti ng mga Pilipino,” the Speaker said. 

(The President's order to is clear: To ensure that every project and program for the benefit of Filipinos is amply funded.)