Naga City, Camarines Sur
3 May 2013
President Benigno S. Aquino III led the unveiling ceremony and toured the newly refurbished and improved 2-storey high Naga City Hospital, a non-profit government-funded primary hospital in Naga City, Camarines Sur.
“Sa ilalim ng ating Health Facilities Enhancement Program, naglaan po tayo ng labinlimang milyong piso para sa pagpapaayos ng main building ng ospital at para sa pagpapaunlad sa operating room at delivery room complex nito,” he said.
The President announced that he had allocated an additional PhP 3 million for the acquisition of modernized medical equipment such as a portable anaesthesia machine, ECG machine and oxygen therapy set. He also said that the government has also started the renovation and expansion project of Bicol Medical Center.
“Iisa ang diwa ng ating mga programang pangkalusugan: binibigyang-lakas natin ang ating mamamayan para maiangat, hindi lamang ang kanilang mga sarili, kundi maging ang buong bayan,” he said.
President Aquino also cited several initiatives being undertaken to improve the health care services in the country, starting with the 78% budget increase for the Department of Health (DOH) and the 268% budget increase allotted for the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), where it has reached 3.9 million registered Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries and has widened its PhilHealth coverage. Under the RN Heals program, more than 5,500 registered nurses have also been dispersed to provide health care services in far-flung areas in the country.
In his message to the Naguenos where he delivered portions of it in Bicol dialect, President Aquino thanked them for their continuous support in achieving positive reform towards change. He also mentioned the ‘Tsinelas’ leadership popularized by its former city mayor and the late Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo.
Constructed in 1992 under the initiative of then City Mayor Jesse Robredo, the NHC underwent a major overhaul in August 2012. It has recently exceeded the requirement expected from a primary hospital with its newly acquired equipment and services, offering topnotch health services as a BEMONC (Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care) Hospital.
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