Gov. Pineda and Dr. Ponio receive the ceremonial key from DOH regional chief Dr. Gorgolon (holding mic) at the inauguration of the P25-million expansion project at the DPMMH on Monday. Joining them are (L-R) Board Members Yabut, Laus, Tolentino, David-Dizon and Dizon.
Photo by Ric Gonzales
GUAGUA, Pampanga – Gov. Lilia Pineda on Monday led the inauguration of the P25-million expansion project at the Diosdado P. Macapagal Memorial Hospital (DPMMH) here as part of her administration’s P170-million modernization program for the 11 provincial government-run hospitals.
Pineda said the new two-storey building at the DPMMH will nearly double the bed capacity of the provincial hospital, even as she stressed that doctors, nurses and the more than 200 hospital workers should “serve the public well and with a smile.”
”It’s a beautiful and clean hospital we see now. But how long can we maintain it? Patients are not happy and become more sick when they are in a dirty hospital,” said Pineda in the dialect.
Dr. Eddie Ponio, provincial health officer I and head of the DPMMH, said that from its capacity of 75 to 80 admitted patients, the hospital has now doubled that to 160.
Ponio said this was the “first ever major rehabilitation of the hospital” since it was constructed in September 1985.
Dr. Larry Fernando, provincial head of clinic, said they are expecting more patients to avail themselves of the services at the DPMMH, including the dialysis center and head injury unit (HIU) headed by neurologist Dr. Jay Rivera.
He added that the new facility will have a surgery room and obstetrics (OB) ward.
Board Member Cris Garbo, head of the provincial board (PB) committee on finance, said Pineda has almost completed the repair of the DPMMH and 10 district hospitals with the allocated funds totalling P170 million.
“There are just a few other projects which are nearing completion,” added Garbo.
Dr. Leonita Gorgolon, Department of Health (DOH) Central Luzon chief, lauded the efforts of Pineda and the PB led by Vice Gov. Joseller Guiao to improve the hospitals in the province.
She disclosed that DOH has been involved in the improvement of services and facilities in seven out of the 11 hospitals.
Board Members Ric Yabut, Salvador Dimzon Jr., Nestor Tolentino, Cris Garbo, Olga Frances “Fritzie” Dizon, Trina Dizon and Monina Laus, Mayor Ric Rivera of Guagua and Guagua Councilor Tonton Torres, former Sta. Rita Mayor Arthur Salalila and provincial health officer Dr. Marcelo Jaochico joined Pineda in welcoming partylist Rep. Juan Miguel Arroyo in the blessing and inauguration at the nhospital named after his grandfather.
The younger Arroyo represented his mother, former President and incumbent 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo whose constituents in this town, Porac, Sasmuan, Floridablanca, Sta. Rita and Lubao are the majority patients in the hospital.
Pineda disclosed that patients from other towns in other districts such as Arayat, City of San Fernando and Magalang also seek the “improved” services of the hospital.
