Continuing the legacy of quality services to Alaminians!
One of the biggest awaited projects of the Alaminos City government will finally rise to ensure better health and utmost wellness of Alaminians as well as investors and tourists alike that frequent the world famous Hundred Islands National Park (HINP).
Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III and Alaminos City Mayor Hernani A. Braganza led yesterday the groundbreaking and contract signing for the construction of the Hundred Islands Medical Services Complex (HIMSC) in Brgy. Bolaney here.
Present during said ceremony were Vice Mayor Teofilo G. Humilde Jr, city councilors Ma. Angela A. Braganza Carol Dizon-Sison, Earl James Aquino, Orlando Go, Cirilo Radoc, Felimon Bacala Jr., Oscar Boling and Helen Bumagat and Engr. Ramir Encabo of R.R. Encabo Constructors and Traders, DOH regional director Eduardo Janairo, Dr. Ferdinand Salcedo of DOH Manila and Dr. Ferdinand Totaan, OIC provincial health officer.
Also witnessing this historic event were representatives of COA, Land Bank of the Philippines and Pangasinan State University representatives, the association of Barangay Captains, the Federation of Senior Citizens, religious groups, barangay health workers and various NGOs in the city.
The ceremony started with the laying of capsule and followed by a short program at the nearby Bayanihan Center for Rural Development Bldg.
Integrated services
Dr. Ma. Victoria O. Carambas, city health officer gave her welcome remarks and project overview.
Carambas said the establishment of HISMC was conceptualized as early as 2004 when Braganza became a mayor and that one of his administration’s priority thrusts is the swift delivery of quality basic health services to the people.
“His (Braganza) definition of progress is a healthy, educated and well nourished citizenry," she added.
“Thus, this modern hospital which will house the integrated services of the city health office, the city social welfare and development office and other allied services.”
Among the services and facilities will be found in the HIMSC include the medical and dental clinic, health zone, senior citizen’s clinic, center for special children, population management office, adolescent health center, nutrition center, social hygiene clinic, health information resource center, environmental sanitation and TB DOTS center.
With its modular design, the said complex is very much capable to accommodate various laboratory services of a hospital.
And this will give justice to the specific objective of the institution to provide quality health care, said the city health officer.
Timely and laudable
There are existing hospitals in the city today, a community hospital and private one.
But according to Carambas the fact remains that the dearth of attending physicians and sufficiently trained personnel and standard equipment has greatly hampered the hospitals’ capacity to fully serve the needs of their indigent constituents.
“There is a persistent clamor for the provision of a more modern but affordable and humane medical facility in our city," she stressed. "And this clamor will soon be addressed.”
The construction of the facility is a very timely anticipation of the tremendous influx of visitors and tourists in the city.
She said with the new hospital, the arrival of the city’s guests will be complemented with a credible, affordable, competitive and presentable health facility that also cater the health needs of people from all walks of life.
The construction of the Alaminos Airport Development Project early next year is expected not just to double if not triple the number of tourist that will visit the city but also trigger more developments here.
Therefore, no less than this HIMSC should be in place to address their medical and hospital needs.
With this medical complex, Alaminos would likewise surely contribute to the sustainability and to the success of the Philippine Medical Tourism Program.
Seeing the great potential of medical tourism and wellness in the country, the Department of Tourism in collaboration with DOH had launched said program and is being currently promoted to local government.
The establishment of the Pangasinan State University-Alaminos City Campus also next year will be a giant step toward the realization of this medical tourism.
The PSU Campus, which will be constructed right next to the HIMSC, will soon offer medical courses and the new medical complex will complement the university in terms of medical affiliation.
Good politics
Sec. Duque, in his speech, lauded Mayor Braganza for his health care program and his support to the medical tourism and wellness program of the national government.
“Mayor Nani and I share the same goal for our constituents and that is to provide the best health care services which I believe in the end will be a key for us to attain development and progress that we all aspire for country,” he said.
“I’m so glad of your initiative of putting up a medical services complex in your city. This is definitely a very noble one, comprehensive program that addresses so many concerns, "added the secretary, who enjoys the highest approval rating among the members of the Cabinet today.
“This is indeed, a tangible proof that the Braganza administration is giving importance to your utmost welfare, particularly on your health care and wellness,” he told the city residents.
Citing that “Good Health is Good Politics”, Duque said the visionary and dynamic city chief executives deserves to continue his legacy for having the best agenda and for minding the utmost welfare of his constituents, foremost of which is his health care program.
He said the city and its people are very lucky because the Braganza administration’s programs and projects centered on delivery of quality basic services.
The secretary, who earlier donated boxes of medicines to the city, also thanked the former top honcho of the Department of Agrarian Reform and two term congressman for his contributions to National Health Insurance Program (NHIP).
Duque was then the PhilHealth General Manager when then Congressman Braganza supported the promotion of the health insurance policy of the government in the localities.
“Now that he’s your mayor, I know and we are all confident that he will do nothing else but to advance the welfare of every Alaminian,” he added.
“As your secretary, I’m also fortunate that we have our local partners like your city government working so hard to have a complete system that implement its health care programs. It makes our job of realizing our important programs a lot easier in the countryside if we have partners like Mayor Braganza and your other city officials doing their work.”
Duque, who is being groomed to become the next congressman of the second district of the province and also being convinced to run for the Senate, assured the city residents that he will continue extending additional assistance to the Alaminos government in the future.
“We will continue to get in touch with Mayor Braganza and asked what more can we do in the Department of Health to speed up the construction of your medical services complex.”
Single biggest project
Once completed, this P65 M medical complex will be the single biggest project of the city government for its constituents.
“Our citymates need continuous quality services that they deserve, said Braganza. And this basically, is the reason we have this project today.”
“This (HIMSC) is basically a good program," he added. It’s a laudable project since the wealth of the city returns back to the people in terms of services and projects.
Not only that, to ensure the continuity of services, the city government has requested PSU to put up its campus in Alaminos.
Mayor Braganza and Dr. Victoriano C. Estira, PSU president, signed few months ago the memorandum of agreement for the establishment for PSU-Alaminos City Campus here to provide accessible, quality and affordable college education to thousands of Alaminians and students from all over Western Pangasinan.
Under the MOA, the campus will rise near the site of the medical services complex. PSU promised to offer medical related courses to the students aside from its regular courses.
The PSU Alaminos Campus will help transform HIMSC from a level 2 hospital to a level 3 or 4 hospital in the future.
“This will mean more students, doctors and nurses will be helping our city to improve our hospital services and address health problems of our constituents,” said Braganza.
“It is also our wish that our brilliant provincemate - Sec. Duque that our medical center will be given PhilHealth Accreditation where the city’s hospital could also derive its income,” he added.
Braganza vowed that the health care services which HIMSC will soon provide will be given at no cost to all Alaminians without asking from them in return.
He said the medical facility address one of his administration’s visions- to be known as the center of medical tourism.
This, he said, will give better income for his citymates and bigger revenues for the city.
Long term solution
The mayor pointed out the construction of three landmark projects in the city namely the hospital, a university and a commercial airport is part of a long-term solution to various problems such as poverty and better employment opportunities for the people.
He said this will trigger the coming-in of more people to the city of Alaminos and that will be a major challenge to all Alaminians.
Braganza noted that Alaminos is the fourth and the youngest city in Pangasinan and is becoming one of the most progressive cities in the region now.
“We will become the most progressive city in the province of Pangasinan not because of select few who wants to invade our city but because of us Alaminians that truly cares and loves our city,” he reminded his citymates.
“Alaminos will not what it is today without your support and our common vision," he said. "We don’t need an imported player for us to be recognized. Alaminos is not wanting other leaders outside the city because we have the best leaders now in our city.”
For the record, said the mayor, what the city government is doing is not just mere planning.
“We have these concrete projects that will soon raise the standard of living in our city," he said. "And this, to my mind, is the essence of leadership. A true leader should be truthful, observing, inspiring others."
“That is the reason why we invited Dr. Duque because he one Pangasinense I know that embodies all of those what we have aspired for and the kind of leader we believe in.”
Braganza thanked the good secretary for assuring his full support the city’s projects.
“As we keep on saying, we will keep on dreaming big for our city and continue our legacy of good governance and quality service for our constituents,” he said.
"Together, we will do it not for me or our city officials but for our dear city and our children and children’s children.” (CIO)