The provincial government and the Department of Health (DOH) broke ground Wednesday in Brgy. Catagupan, Balabac town, to construct a P100 million municipal district hospital.
DOH assistant secretary Maria Francia Laxamana, regional DOH director Mario Baquilod, Infrastructure Unit (IU) chief of provincial government Engr. Saylito Purisima, Engr. Romeo Ong of Balabac Engineering Office (BEO) and Lorna Gapilango of the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) led the groundbreaking event on June 5, a press statement released by the Provincial Information Office (PIO) said.
The new health facility is a joint project of DOH and provincial government under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP).
Laxamana said in the statement that the hospital will answer the health needs of local residents.
“We are looking forward na once matapos itong ospital ay marami tayong matulungang residente rito kabilang na ‘yung mula sa mga malalayong barangay. And also, nagpapasalamat kami kay Governor Alvarez dahil sa suporta niya sa mga proyekto ng DOH dito sa Palawan”, Laxamana was quoted in saying.
She added that the Balabac municipal government donated three hectares of public land for the hospital.
Gapilango said the town is grateful to finally have its own hospital.
The completion of the P7.8 million Phase 1 of the hospital is targetted next year, the statement said.
Catagupan is also the future site of the planned Philippine Air Force (PAF) base in southern Palawan, which is expected to stir economic development in Balabac, as well as fortify the security in the border between Malaysia and the province.
