Negros Occ. Prov’l Gov’t breaks ground for P100-M infectious disease hub

September 14, 2021

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, together with 3rd District Rep. Francisco Benitez and other local officials, led the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (CEMREID) at the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital in Silay City yesterday morning, Sept. 13.

The P100 million center is jointly funded by the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental and the Department of Health (DOH) Health Facilities Enhancement Program through the Office of the Chairman of the Senate Health Committee, Senator Bong Go.

Gov. Bong Lacson said that the COVID-19 pandemic as a global health crisis has stretched the health systems beyond their capacity and exposed the weaknesses of health systems worldwide, and as such, responding to public health emergency and minimizing its impact require every health resource to be maximized.

“We extend our sincerest appreciation and gratitude to the good Senator for his solid support to this ambitious and progressive project of the province that will bridge critical gaps in our hospital and emergency service,” said Gov. Lacson.

The governor also said that with the CEMREID can serve both infectious and clean cases simultaneously, and it will have its own emergency room, operating room, delivery room, and intensive care unit (ICU) aside from isolation rooms.

In a video message, Sen. Bong Go acknowledged the effort of the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental for the contribution and effort in facilitating the establishment of the CEMREID.

He also said that the project is another testament that both the national and local governments are aggressively responding to address the need to expand medical-related service, and upgrade our health facilities as well.

Also at the groundbreaking were Board Members Ryan Gamboa, Manuel Frederick Ko, Araceli Somosa, and Andrew Montelibano, Provincial Administrator, Atty. Rayfrando Diaz, Silay City Mayor Mark Golez, former Bacolod vice mayor, Thaddy Sayson, Homer Bais, TLJPH Chief of Hospital, Dr. Mary Ann Maestral, and Capitol departments heads and chiefs of provincial government-run hospitals.

The governor also checked on the upgraded oxygen plant at provincial hospital, as the demand for oxygen is expected to increase, especially among COVID patients.* (Capitol PIO)