Zubiri commits P200-M for Bacolod City General Hospital

Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri has committed to source funding of P200 million to augment the allocation for the establishment of the Bacolod City General Hospital.

“Aside from the P600 million appropriated in the law, we are going to add more from my allocation, which you call institutional amendment. I added the P200 million to be sure that the construction can start,” he said in a virtual press conference with Bacolod reporters Thursday.

Zubiri, who traces his roots to Bacolod City and Negros Occidental, sponsored the counterpart Senate Bill 1647 for the creation of the city’s own hospital.

Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya authored House Bill 6731 on the establishment of the health facility.
On June 24, President Rodrigo Duterte signed into law Republic Act (RA) 11564 on the establishment of the Bacolod City General Hospital.

“I thank the President for signing our proposed measure into law,” Zubiri said.

He said he is pushing for the inclusion of the P200 million funding in the 2022 national budget because the P600 million appropriation provided in RA 11564 could be allocated on a “multi-year release.”

“I put it in 2022 so that whatever happens, we will have the P200 million to start construction. That is my advocacy. That is our promise to the people of Bacolod,” he added.

The Senate has allotted a budget of P600 million for the establishment of the Bacolod City General Hospital, which will be included in the 2022 General Appropriations Act under the Department of Health – Health Facilities Enhancement Program.

Earlier, Mayor Evelio Leonardia said he called Zubiri to thank him again for sponsoring the bill creating the city hospital and reiterated his request for assistance to explore other ways to enhance the financial feasibility of the hospital once it is operational.
The city government has yet to identify the location of the hospital but Leonardia said they are seriously pursuing prospective lot donors in coordination with Gasataya.* (Nanette Guadalquiver)