MOTHER-CHILD HOSPITAL PROJECT WITHDRAWN

CONSTRUCTION of the Mother and Child Hospital (MCH) project in Dagupan City has been scrapped before the P150 million allotted to it could be downloaded by the Department of Health to the Dagupan City government

Mayor Belen Fernandez, in her State of the City Address (SOCA) at CSI Stadia on March 18, said the DOH confirmed to her that the budget for the planned hospital is no longer in its possession as overseer of the fund since 2022.

The seven councilors that composed the majority at the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP), delayed the passage of a simple resolution authorizing the mayor to sign a memorandum of agreement for the project with the DOH since 2022.

The DOH officials appeared on several occasions at the SP to persuade the councilors to pass the needed authorization but to no avail.

The majority delayed its action for almost three years as they manifested their objection to the designated site of the project, which was the lot donated to the DOH by the mayor’s family along the De Venecia Expressway in Barangay Pantal.

The seven opposition councilors insisted that the donation was motivated by the commercial interests of the Fernandez family.

They finally agreed to construct the hospital at the lot owned by the city and recently vacated by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) in Barangay Poblacion Oeste, but it was too late to meet the deadline for utilization.

Despite efforts to fast track the groundbreaking rite for the proposed MCH, the DOH confirmed that the project can no longer be implemented because the deadline for the utilization of the fund already lapsed.

Fernandez, however, assured residents that if she and come-backing congresswoman Gina de Venecia win in the May 12 elections, they will help each other in seeking funds to restore the hospital project.

De Venecia, who attended the SOCA, gave a two thumbs-up to the mayor’s pledge. (Leonardo Micua)

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