“Now is the time to really invest in our health care system. Indeed, this is a great milestone not only for your province but also for our country’s health care system. Through establishing facilities like this, I am confident that we can provide the best services and quality facilities for the benefit of the Filipinos.”
This was the recorded message of Senator Christopher Laurence “Bong” Go during the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the Construction of Baybay City’s Super Health Center held on September 9, 2022.
Baybay City Mayor Hon. Jose Carlos L. Cari, during his message, revealed that the construction of the Super Health Center in Baybay City would commence this month but this will be an expanded Super Health Center because if the Department of Health will allow it, a Blood Collecting Unit (BCU) with additional functions will also be part of the center. To this, Department of Health (DOH) Assistant Regional Director Rodolfo Antonio M. Albornoz said that he and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Antonio Ida will inform Regional Director Exuperia B. Sabalberino regarding Baybay City LGU’s plan to establish a BCU as part of the Super Health Center.
Mayor Cari also thanked the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) for being ever supportive and for providing additional funds of six million pesos (P6M) for the needed machines and equipment in the Super Health Center. ARD Albornoz commended Baybay City LGU for allocating additional funds for the said project, “This shows the commitment of the Baybay City LGU for providing quality health services.”
ARD Albornoz explained that the Super Health Center is a primary care facility with Pharmacy, Clinical Laboratory, Birthing Facility, and Dental Facility. To this, Congressman Carl Nicolas C. Cari added that he is delighted that the Construction of the Super Health Center was included in the General Appropriations Act (GAA) for this year. He added that he is glad that another Super Health Center will soon be constructed in Bato, Leyte, and another one later in Inopacan, Leyte.
Vice Mayor Atty. Ernesto M. Butawan, on the other hand, said that “I am happy to grace this occasion and to be a part of this momentous event showing that Baybay City has raised the bar of public health service in this part of the province, making sure that all resources and taxes collected by the City are allocated to programs and services for the general welfare not only of Baybayanons but also that of the neighboring towns.”
Finally, City Health Officer Dr. Oja said that DOH Administrative Order No. 20-0047 mandates that all primary health care services must be located in only one facility. The Super Health Center will make this possible. “We have a Level II Clinical Laboratory, Pharmacy (Botika ng Bayan), Birthing Facility, Dental facility, and a Diagnostic Facility with X-ray, ECG, and Ultra Sound but these are found in different locations at the moment,” added Dr. Oja. (Marissa M. Cano, City Information Officer, Baybay City, Leyte)
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