THE Pangasinan Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) confirmed on September 8, 2025 the appointments of Dr. Vivian Villar-Espino as Provincial Health Officer II and Dr. Tracy Lou Bitoy as head of the Provincial Hospital Management Services Office.

Vice Governor Mark Ronald Lambino assured the public that there will be no overlapping of functions between the two newly appointed officials. He explained that the separation of offices was deliberate to ensure efficiency in handling both preventive and curative healthcare services.

Villar-Espino, in her speech before the board, highlighted the importance of preventive medicine to address the province’s health challenges.

“With 912 hospital beds for over 3.1 million Pangasinenses, our ratio stands at 1 to 3,000, far from the standard of 1 is to 1,000. That is why preventive medicine is very important so we can reduce the influx of inpatients and lower morbidity and mortality,” she said.

She stressed the importance of collaboration with municipal health officers, non-government organizations, and hospitals in promoting behavioral changes and health education.

Meanwhile, Bitoy emphasized her long years of service in the provincial government and her commitment to modernizing provincial hospitals.

The provincial government currently operates 14 hospitals with a combined authorized bed capacity of 912, but with actual beds reaching 1,600.

Governor Ramon Guico III has set plans to increase the number of hospitals to 20, alongside upgrading existing ones. (Eva Visperas)