Manila Bulletin
Philippines
House bill seeking establishment of Bicol women's, children's hospital nears approval
Philippines
House bill seeking establishment of Bicol women's, children's hospital nears approval
House bill seeking establishment of Bicol women's, children's hospital nears approval
Published Jan 5, 2020 12:00 am
By Charissa Luci-Atienza
The House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill seeking to establish the Bicol Women's and Children's Hospital.
House of Representatives
(Michael Varcas / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) House Bill No. 2444, principally authored by Deputy Speaker and Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr., hurdled the Lower Chamber before Congress adjourned session on December 17, 2019 for a monthlong Christmas break. Villafuerte noted that during the previous 17th Congress, the bill was approved on third and final reading, but was unable to move forward in the Senate. He expressed hope that the Senate would give due attention to his bill. "The province of Camarines Sur, including the cities of Naga and Iriga, is the only province in the Philippines without any provincial hospital," he said. He said the provincial hospital, which was then located in the municipality of Naga which became a city, was converted into a regional hospital, and then into the Bicol Medical Center (BMC). He even noted that the 300-bed capacity BMC itself needs expansion in terms of bed capacity, equipment, and professional personnel. "It should be highlighted that one of the biggest gaps in the province of Camarines Sur in terms of health care is the Obstetrics, Gynecology, Pediatrics needs of the province with 35 municipalities and two cities," Villafuerte said. "Apart from local concerns, it is to be re-emphasized that it is our country's commitment under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to reduce child mortality, improve mental health, and combat other women's and children's diseases," he said. He said the Bicol Women's and Children's Hospital will complement and supplement the facilities and services that the BMC is presently able to offer. House Bill 2444 provides for the establishment of a women's and children's hospital in the municipality of Pamplona in Camarines Sur, to be known as the Bicol Women's and Children's Hospital. The proposed hospital shall be authorized to operate a 200-bed capacity hospital dedicated to women's and children's health requirements. "The hospital shall specialize on the care of women and children and shall focus on women and children health care, prenatal testing, obstetrics and gynecological services, pediatrics care, lactation programs, nutrition services, neonatal care, immunization services, postpartum depression support, education classes for parenting, and women's and children's health awareness," the bill provides. HB 2444 tasks the provincial government of Camarines Sur to provide for the establishment and operation of the Bicol Women's and Children's Hospital. The Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) shall include in the agency's subsidy program, support for the capital outlay of the proposed hospital. The proposed Act shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. On November 21, 2019, the House Committee on Health, chaired by Quezon Rep. Angelina "Helen" Tan endorsed the plenary approval of the bill.
House of Representatives(Michael Varcas / MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO) House Bill No. 2444, principally authored by Deputy Speaker and Camarines Sur Rep. Luis Raymund Villafuerte Jr., hurdled the Lower Chamber before Congress adjourned session on December 17, 2019 for a monthlong Christmas break. Villafuerte noted that during the previous 17th Congress, the bill was approved on third and final reading, but was unable to move forward in the Senate. He expressed hope that the Senate would give due attention to his bill. "The province of Camarines Sur, including the cities of Naga and Iriga, is the only province in the Philippines without any provincial hospital," he said. He said the provincial hospital, which was then located in the municipality of Naga which became a city, was converted into a regional hospital, and then into the Bicol Medical Center (BMC). He even noted that the 300-bed capacity BMC itself needs expansion in terms of bed capacity, equipment, and professional personnel. "It should be highlighted that one of the biggest gaps in the province of Camarines Sur in terms of health care is the Obstetrics, Gynecology, Pediatrics needs of the province with 35 municipalities and two cities," Villafuerte said. "Apart from local concerns, it is to be re-emphasized that it is our country's commitment under the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals to reduce child mortality, improve mental health, and combat other women's and children's diseases," he said. He said the Bicol Women's and Children's Hospital will complement and supplement the facilities and services that the BMC is presently able to offer. House Bill 2444 provides for the establishment of a women's and children's hospital in the municipality of Pamplona in Camarines Sur, to be known as the Bicol Women's and Children's Hospital. The proposed hospital shall be authorized to operate a 200-bed capacity hospital dedicated to women's and children's health requirements. "The hospital shall specialize on the care of women and children and shall focus on women and children health care, prenatal testing, obstetrics and gynecological services, pediatrics care, lactation programs, nutrition services, neonatal care, immunization services, postpartum depression support, education classes for parenting, and women's and children's health awareness," the bill provides. HB 2444 tasks the provincial government of Camarines Sur to provide for the establishment and operation of the Bicol Women's and Children's Hospital. The Secretary of the Department of Health (DOH) shall include in the agency's subsidy program, support for the capital outlay of the proposed hospital. The proposed Act shall take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation. On November 21, 2019, the House Committee on Health, chaired by Quezon Rep. Angelina "Helen" Tan endorsed the plenary approval of the bill.