CONSTRUCTION of the Maternal and Children’s Hospital (MCH) in Dagupan City is now closer to reality after the Sangguniang Panlungsod, in a special session on October 11, passed a P5-million supplemental budget and its corresponding Supplemental Annual Investment Program (SAIP) to fund the demolition of existing buildings on city-owned properties where the hospital will rise.

Authored by the seven majority councilors, Supplemental Budget No. 4 will cover the demolition costs of the vacated Land Transportation Office (LTO) buildings 1-4, and the stockroom and perimeter fence of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The Local Development Council approved Supplemental Budget No. 4 and its corresponding SAIP in a meeting convened on Oct. 10 by Mayor Belen Fernandez.

The proposed MCH area will include the parking lot shared by LTO, National Bureau of Investigation and the former building of the Helping Hand Foundation, which is being utilized by the Department of Education as venue for its Alternative Learning System.

Also passed during the special session was a resolution that amended by addendum previous resolution No. 8170-2024 passed by the SP on October 5 authorizing the mayor to sign a memorandum of agreement for and in behalf of the city with the Department of Health for the establishment of the hospital.

The amendment was introduced by Councilor Michael Fernandez, Dennis Canto, Marcelino Fernandez and Bradley Benavidez.

The addendum reads in part: “Resolved further that the authority retroacts to December 30, 2022, the date on which the amount of P150 million was obligated for the project, thereby confirming all actions taken by the honorable Mayor in the furtherance of the project from the date onward.”

A further amendment introduced by Councilor Redford Erfe-Mejia that seeks to _____was withdrawn after Atty. Jordan Falcis, DOH representative, objected. Leonardo Micua)

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