CITY OF MALOLOS –Bulacan on Monday inaugurates the P60-million worth Pandi District Hospital, the 7th district hospital in the province amidst 12 long years of construction.
Gov. Daniel Fernando led the inauguration of the hospital in Barangay Bunsuran 1st in Pandi together with Vice Gov. Alex Castro, Mayor Enrico Roque and Fifth District Congressman Ambrosio Cruz Jr.
Fernando boasts that the hospital is a two-storey medical facility with a 25-bed capacity and will initially focus treatment for out patient
services with two medical doctors to be assigned temporarily, two nurses, one attendant and four security guards.
However, the hospital targets full operation early next year, says Dr. Protacio Bajao, head of Bulacan Medical Center District Hospital Division.
It is built within an 8,000 square meters -lot area and a floor area of 1,824.55 square meters and has a separate one storey building next to it.
Castro said the inauguration which also marks their first 100 days in office is a realizatiin of the long dream of the people of Pandi. “Pangarap ito ng maraming bayan, sa Pandi katuparan na ito ngayon at maseserbisyuhan din nito ang iba pang towns ng fifth district.
According to Provincial Engineer Glenn D. Reyes, a total ofP59,227,665 funds; P40,047,600 of which came from the Bulacan provincial government and P19,180,064 from the National Housing Authority were spent for the construction of the said hospital.
Cruz said he will also help and support the operation of the said hospital.
Roque said the people of Pandi is thankful that finally, after 12 long years of waiting, the seemingly impossible to be completed district hospital in their town was finished.
The mayor also said that the hospital is an added medical facility to the very much needed numerous health care centers in the town because of its now bloated 180,000 population greatly contributed by various relocation sites.
Pandi has five existing rural health units, but its 180,000 population requires it to have nine, Cruz said based on national government’s one rural health unit for every 20,000 residents.
The town hosts the six Kalipunan ng Damayang Mahihirap (Kadamay) relocation communities
The Pandi District Hospital is the seventh district hospital in Bulacan after Calumpit, Gregorio Del Pilar, Perez, Baliwag, San Miguel and Sta. Maria District Hospitals. It took 12 long years to be completed due to reported political concerns that hampered its realization.
The similarly proposed construction of Angat and Obando District Hospitals were also delayed. But Fernando assured officials and residents of the two towns they are doubling their efforts in the provincial government to raise enough funds for the project.
Fernando said while Bulacan’s budget faces cut because of the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, they remain highly focused on the health sector that’s why he continue to prioritize the establishment of new hospitals.
He said out of the province increased tax collection brought by stoppage of illegal quarry and mining operations, Calumpit District hospital will be rehabilitated and Angat and Obando hospitals are next to be constructed.
