DAVAO Occidental Representative Lorna Bautista-Bandigan is elated that President Rodrigo Duterte finally signed House Bill 7321 or the bill establishing the Davao Occidental General Hospital.
Bautista-Bandigan said the first step of the creation of the general hospital in the province is a real cause for joy for the residents of Malita and other neighboring municipalities as this is one of their dreams that has finally come true.
“Natuman na gyod ang usa ka damgo, ug mas maningkamot pa kita nga mohimo og dugang mga balaud nga ikalipay ug ikaayo sa tanan natong mga residente ngari sa Malita (A dream has finally come true and we will strive hard to craft laws that are beneficial and will make the Malita residents happy),” Bautista-Bandigan said during a telephone interview with SunStar Superbalita Davao Monday, June 28, 2021.
On June 24, Duterte signed the bill entitled: “An Act Establishing A General Hospital in Barangay Lacaron, Municipality Malita, Province of Davao Occidental To Be Known As The Davao Occidental General Hospital, And Appropriating Funds Therefor.”
The signing ceremony was attended by some members of the Congress at Malacañang where Duterte signed 16 laws, 13 of which were health-related and sought to increase the bed capacity of hospitals in various parts of the country.
Bautista-Bandigan said they crafted the bill to address the residents’ three to four-hour land travel to avail the services of tertiary hospitals in Davao City.
The hospital is currently being constructed in Barangay Lacaron in Malita town, the capital of the province.
Expected to be operational in the first or second quarter of 2022, it will be a 100 bed-capacity hospital with more units to be added annually to increase its occupancy and services.
Davao Occidental was created on October 28, 2016 and separated from Davao del Sur following a referendum.
“Even before una ang pagbahin sa Del Sur, usa ka kini ka dako nga plano, — plano nga alang sa katawhan ngari, ilaha kini, karon hapit nang magamit, gusto nato nga magamit kini sa unang kuwarter sa 2022 (Even before the division of Davao del Sur, the establishment of a hospital in this part of the region has been their plan – a plan for the residents here, this is for them. Now, it is nearly operational. I want for it to be operational in the first quarter of 2022),” the lady lawmaker added.
She is grateful for the support of Senator Bong Go, Senate committee chair on health, and Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon for passing HB 7321 and SB 1616, or the establishing of the general hospital in the province.
