Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc led the inauguration of nine (9) upgraded health facilities amounting to nearly ₱ 80,000,000.00 at the Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital (GRBASMH), in line with the flagship hospital’s 77th Foundation Anniversary on May 27, 2022.
The garden landscaping work; the construction of a warehouse and the rehabilitation of a multi-purpose building; the renovation of comfort rooms and gutters; the establishment of a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit; the rehabilitation of the operating room complex and the provision of housing for a medical machine; the improvement of the Nutrition and Dietetics Building; the construction of an Isolation Facility and a Holding Facility; and the co-location of GRASMH are all part of the GRASMH upgrade.
The funding of the projects was funneled from the Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte’s (PGIN) General Fund for the years 2019 and 2020; the Development Fund for the years 2019, 2020, and 2021; and the Department of Health’s Hospital Facilities Enhancement Program and “Bayanihan 2” for the year 2020.
Acknowledging the importance of having an adequate number of competent healthcare professionals, Gov. Marcos Manotoc remarked.
“Our flagship hospital is now one that we can be proud of. Not just the aesthetics but also our equipment and, of course, pinakaimportante sa lahat, our hospital personnel. All of you who make this hospital work kasi alam ko po na may mga kulang pa tayo.
We need to make sure that with all these new buildings, kailangan din ang medical care provided by people who take utmost consideration sa mga pasyente.
So we will hire more people to make sure we are equipped kasi ultimately iyon po ang pinakamahalaga pagdating sa medical care. It comes down to you guys. You are what make this hospital great.
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, the improvement of provincial health facilities was underway. PGIN has invested over ₱ 291 million in hospital infrastructure alone over the last two (2) years. On the other hand, ₱ 212 million was allocated for the procurement of equipment and supplies, and the hiring of medical professionals. (Cita Macalipis)
(Source: Provincial Government of Ilocos Norte)