Sugar workers’ hospital to be donated to DOH

CEBU, Philippines —  The sugarcane planters association in Bogo City and Medellin in northern Cebu is donating its medical center for sugar workers to the national government.

This is now being worked out by the Board of Directors (BOD) of Bogo-Medellin Sugarcane Planters Association, Inc. (BMSPAI), the Department of Health and the Office of Fourth District Representative Benhur Salimbangon, said Medellin Councilor Juan Alfonso Lim, a member of BMSPAI Board.

“Ni-start na sa Board of Directors meeting sa Planters Association kay daghan reklamo nga wa na gyud tarong serbisyo ang medical center sa mga sugar workers,” Lim told The Freeman.

Lim said he suggested to the board to donate the hospital to the national government. It was Salimbangon who facilitated the negotiation with DOH Secretary Francisco Duque for the donation.

“He (Salimbangon) contacted Sec. Duque sa DOH ug willing pud sila,” Lim said.

The final donation was earlier set but Lim said it was overtaken by the recently concluded May 13 midterm elections.

The Bogo-Medellin Medical Center is co-run by the Bogo-Medellin Milling Company (BOMEDCO) and the BMSPAI for the free medical services of workers in the sugar industry.

Lim said that because of the downturn of the sugar industry, the budget, which is taken from the two percent of the total production, has decreased prompting the hospital to cut cost.

“Ang tambal dali na mahurot, gamay na lang doctors. In our meetings mao na na-discuss on how to improve and maintain the hospital kay sayang ang infrastructure ug ang mga equipment,” Lim said.

The facility was first brought up to be donated to the Provincial Government but Lim said he did not agree based on the experience of the Severo Verallo Memorial District Hospital, now the Cebu Provincial Hospital in Bogo City.

“Wa gyud ni’y improvement na mapaabot. Muna ako gi-propose nga sa national government thru Cong. Benhur,” Lim said.

Salimbangon will end his term on June 30 but fortunately, his wife, Congresswoman-elect Janice Salimbangon, will succeed him.

Last March, officials of DOH already conducted initial assessment in the facility.

Once taken over by the DOH, the hospital is expected to have upgraded medical equipment and facilities for the delivery of improved medical and health services in the Municipality of Medellin.

At present, Medellin residents rely on government hospital services at the nearby province-run provincial and district hospitals in Bogo City and in the Municipality of Daanbantayan, respectively. — FPL (FREEMAN)