Davao Doctors, LapandayHoldings sign deal for new hospital in Mandug

DAVAO CITY — Davao Doctors Hospital (DDH) has signed a contract with agriculture firm Lapanday Holdings Corp. for the construction of a new hospital in one of the latter’s properties in Mandug, Davao City.

“DDH is expanding in Mandug. We’ve signed a contract with Lapanday wherein they donated one hectare… the possible ( hospital) configuration depends on the development in Mandug, and we feel confident that it is a new place to be,” Raymund CS. del Val, president and CEO of DDH, which is 34% owned by Metro Pacific Hospital Holdings, Inc. of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC).

Mr. Del Val, in an interview with the media, said DDH has an option to buy from Lapanday another five hectares within two to five years should development in the area require a bigger medical facility.

Lapanday has developed a residential zone in the Mandug area, which was also the site of the packaging materials factory that was totally burned down earlier this year by members of the communist New People’s Army.

Lapanday has said that it does not intend to rebuild the factory.

Mr. Del Val said the plan is to initially roll out a mobile clinic in the area to “announce the presence” of DDH in Mandug.

“But we are committed to have a (permanent) facility in that location five years from now,” he added.

Meanwhi le, Mr. Del Val said there are no immediate plans to build a hospital at the company’s six- hectare property in another part of the city, Mintal.

“Those are the possible locations wherein we like to promote primary health care. We are also looking at that area,” he said.

DDH officials also welcomed the entry of other big health care facilities in the city, including St. Luke’s Medical Center, Inc. (SLMC) and the Lanang Premiere Doctors Hospital, Inc. ( LPDH), saying competition keeps them on their toes.

“We’re very happy that they are coming in because these (influence) us to become better… It just forces us to improve.,” said Dr. Noel A. Villanueva, medical director of DDH.

The hospital officials also announced that DDH has recently been awarded a Gold Accreditation by the Accreditation Canada International, making it the first hospital in Mindanao to receive international accreditation for health care.

MPIC is one of the three key Philippine units of Hong Kong- based First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT, Inc. Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. —