Vergeire opens Nueva Ecija hospitals
SOME 636,728 residents of the third district of Nueva Ecija seem assured of getting the best medical treatment with the recent inauguration of two hospitals — one six-story and the other eight-story — in Cabanatuan City.
Local officials and Officer in Charge Maria Rosario Vergeire of the Department of Health (DoH) attended the inauguration of the two new health facilities on Nov. 3, 2022.
Cabanatuan City Mayor Myca Elizabeth Vergara and her father Vice Mayor Julius Ceasar “Jay” Vergara along with Vergeire led a ribbon-cutting for the multi-specialty center housed in the six-story building composed of several treatment units such as the emergency department, the operating room complex and the surgery ward.
“We are elated with how far the Paulino J. Garcia Memorial Research and Medical Center (PJGMRMC) has come in strengthening its facilities. Itong mga bagong pasilidad natin ay tiyak na makakatulong gawing abot-kamay ang mga serbisyong medikal para sa ating mga kapwa Pilipino. Sa pagkamit ng UHC (universal health care), makakaasa po kayo sa patuloy na suporta ng DoH upang makapagtayo pa ng mas maraming mga pasilidad sa iba pang mga rehiyon sa buong bansa,” Vergeire posted on the DoH Facebook page.
Dr. Huberto Lapuz, Medical Center chief, said in an interview with The Manila Times that more improvements and good services will be provided by the PJGMRMC.
He added that it is their mission to provide quality health services through committed, competent, caring and compassionate health care professionals to all sectors, especially the poor and the disadvantaged. Also with Vergeire during the inauguration were Undersecretary Nestor Santiago and Assistant Regional Director Lailani Mangulabnan.
Meanwhile, Rep. Rosanna “Ria” Vergara, who had a prior appointment and missed the occasion posted on her official video Facebook page, said that she felt happy and her dream for her constituents, especially the poor residents, came true.
She announced that she will increase from P10 million up to P15 million the amount set aside for PJGMRMC until 2024.
Vergara envisioned the heart, lung, kidney and cancer centers to be realized in that year.
She said at least 24,759 residents had received free medical treatment at the PJGMRMC and other hospitals in Manila from 2016 to 2021.
Vergara recalled that in her first term of office in 2016, she introduced House Bill 8225 where she proposed the expansion of the PJGMRMC in Cabanatuan City by increasing from 400 to 1,000 its bed capacity.
The bill was enacted into law as Republic Act 11704 on Jan. 20, 2021, at the House of Representatives and at the Senate on Jan. 31, 2022, and approved by then-President Rodrigo Duterte on April 16, 2022.
Funding for the expansion was initiated by Vergara and later approved by the House of Representatives.
The PJGMRMC was formerly the Nueva Ecija Provincial Hospital.
It was established under Commonwealth Act 3114, as amended by Act 3168 and other Acts.
The medical center was opened to the public on Dec. 15, 1930, with a capacity of 30 beds.
Dr. Facundo Esquivel became its first chief of hospital. He was the provincial governor then.
In 1936, Dr. Elpidio Ysip became the chief of the hospital.
A new Nurses’ Home was built in 1939, enough to accommodate first year students in Nursing.
On April 15, 1940, the School of Nursing of the Nueva Ecija Provincial Hospital was formally inaugurated with the then First Lady Aurora Quezon, and Mrs. Felipe Buencamino as prominent guests.