The plan to build a general hospital in Puerto Princesa is not currently the priority of the “mega apuradong administrasyon” due to budget limitations, according to City Administrator Atty. Arnel Pedrosa.
He said that while it is ideal and supported by the current administration, the city government cannot afford its high cost at the moment.
“Sa limitadong pondo ng city government ay nakikita rin ng administration na ito na ang pagtatayo ng isang general hospital na pagmamay-ari ng gobyerno, operated ng city government, at managed by the city government, ay hindi siya feasible. Baka doon lang mapunta ang budget ng city government sa isang taon sa operation ng hospital na ‘yan,” he stated.
Pedrosa added that running a hospital requires not only building infrastructure but also expensive medical equipment, laboratories, and hiring of professionals and specialists.
The proposal may still be considered in the future, he said, once the city becomes less dependent on national government funding.
“Sa ngayon sa tingin ko, hindi siya kakayanin, pero hindi isinasara ang usaping ‘yan at baka sa mga susunod na panahon ay ‘yung city government natin ay hindi na IRA-dependent at malaki ang nagi-generate natin na taxes sa ating sariling pamamaraan gaya ng real property taxes at regulatory fees na nasisingil ng gobyerno. Kung ‘yun ay mas malaki kesa sa IRA na nare-receive ng city, baka later on. Posible ‘yun at hindi naman talaga siya nakasara ng ganun lang,” he said.
Despite not having its own general hospital, Pedrosa said the city continues to support residents in need through medical assistance programs.
The city has programs in place to provide support and financial assistance to dialysis patients, noting that the new health complex includes a dialysis center.
“Mayroon tayong mga programa kung saan ay binibigyan natin ng suporta at financial assistance ang mga nagda-dialysis na dito sa bagong health complex ay may dialysis center ‘yan. Nagbibigay nga ng financial assistance kaya dyan ay sigurado nang libre ‘yan,” he said, adding that the city also finds ways to support private hospitals.
In a separate interview, City Health Officer Dr. Ricardo Panganiban shared that he personally supports the idea of a city-run hospital.
“Para sa akin, personal ko ito, ay no problem with me kung magtatayo ng sariling hospital ang city at para sa akin nga, okay ako at pabor ako doon pero hindi naman ako ang magde-desisyon para doon,” Panganiban said.
Asked which should be prioritized, building the hospital or hiring more doctors, he said adding more medical staff should come first if both cannot be done at the same time.
He explained that while it is possible to pursue both goals simultaneously, the city may need to prioritize strengthening existing facilities.
Dr. Panganiban noted that the four satellite clinics outside the main health complex are being developed into primary care facilities, with three currently undergoing renovations to accommodate X-ray machines and improve their floor plans to include laboratory services.
“Pwede namang sabayin pero kung pipili tayo, siguro dahil ‘yung mga facility natin andyan na at ‘yung apat na satellite clinic natin sa labas ay gagawin nating primary care facilities. Actually, under renovation ‘yung tatlo kasi lalagyan natin ng mga X-Ray machine ‘yun at the same time ay nire-renovate din ‘yung floor plan para ma-accommodate din ‘yung ating mga laboratory,” he said.
“Siguro kung talagang paipiliin ako, dagdagan muna natin ng mga doktor pero kung mapagsasabay ay mas maganda kung kaya namang pagsabayin,” he added.
