(Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Gov. Lilia G. Pineda lead groundbreaking rites for the country’s first government-funded OFW Hospital and Diagnostic Center in the City of San Fernando. Photo courtesy of PIA 3)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — The country’s first government funded OFW (overseas Filipino workers) Hospital and Diagnostic Center broke ground here on Labor Day with House Speaker Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Gov. Lilia G. Pineda leading the ceremony.
The facility will stand on a P500-million two-hectare lot at the Provincial Engineering Office Compound in Barangay Sindalan here donated by the provincial government.
Pineda said the construction of the hospital worth P400-million will be shouldered by businessman Enrique Anselmo Klar Razon Jr of Bloomberry Resorts and Hotels while Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. chaired by Andrea Domingo will provide hospital equipment worth P200-million, with full support from Department of Labor and Employment, Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, Department of Health and Philippine Health and Insurance Corp.
“This OFW Hospital and Diagnostic Center will provide free medical services to OFWs and their immediate family members. This is a fitting tribute to them, our new heroes,” Arroyo said during the ceremony.
To ensure the continued funding of the facility, particularly the provision of adequate staff , Arroyo appealed to House members from Central Luzon and the chairpersons of the Committees on Health and Labor to author a bill creating it.
“As recommended by the Department of Budget and Management, a law is needed for the continued funding of this OFW Hospital and Diagnostic Center,” Arroyo said.
Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Secretary Silvestre Bello III said they expect the facility to be operationalized by 2020 with an initial 100 bed capacity. Similar facilities will be built in Visayas and Mindanao, it was learned.
–With PIA-3 and Pampanga PIO reports
