Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno" Domagoso, on Monday, Dec. 22, led the inauguration of the newly upgraded emergency room of Ospital ng Sampaloc, citing faster emergency response and improved patient care for Manileños.

Domagoso said the project fulfilled his commitment to complete the facility within 90 days, reflecting his administration’s emphasis on swift action in delivering essential public services.

“I told you 90 days. I committed it to the people of Sampaloc, just give me 90 days. I’m happy because it was completed even before the deadline,” Domagoso said.

The mayor said the renovation addressed long-standing safety concerns in public hospitals, recalling previous conditions that put both patients and health workers at risk.

“Saan ka nakakita ng emergency room na may tumutulo at may danger ng aksidente? May mga pasyente na hindi maiwan ang kamag-anak dahil may tulo mismo sa tabi ng kama (Have you ever seen an emergency room with leaks that could cause accidents? I felt sorry for a young man who could not leave his mother’s side because there was water dripping right next to her hospital bed),” he said. “And we are the capital of the country. We are the City of Manila.”

Domagoso said poor working conditions also affect the quality of healthcare services.

“How can I ask my fellow government workers to smile at patients if we give them that kind of working environment—telling them to smile while a storm is hitting them?” he said.

The upgraded emergency room now features clearly designated triage and treatment areas, nurse stations, minor operating rooms, modern hospital beds, and an integrated oxygen system. Support facilities, including a pharmacy window and accessible restrooms, were also improved.

“Ngayon, pagpasok mo pa lang, mas maayos na. Dati, nakakatakot pumasok sa public hospital. Parang lalo kang pinanghihinaan ng loob (Now, the moment you walk in, the feeling is different. Before, entering a public hospital was frightening, it felt like if your vision was already dim, your life felt even darker),” Domagoso said.

He added that improving healthcare facilities and working conditions is part of the city government’s commitment to addressing Minimum Basic Needs, particularly healthcare.

“I hope this kind of facility gives our employees a better working environment, at the very least,” he said.

Domagoso also highlighted the recent release of long-delayed Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) payments for contact tracers and medical frontliners, noting that some workers received up to seventy-two thousand pesos after waiting nearly three years.

“We released it last Friday. With a simple signature, the three-year hardship of our health workers was resolved,” Domagoso said.

“And I’m happy to share that last Saturday, those who received their HEA were finally paid. Their documents did not move for three years, yet they continued working, some even getting infected during the Covid-19 pandemic,” he added.