Mahayag unveils municipal hospital, water system

Written by ppb

Monday, 27 July 2009

Water for life and hospital saves lives are two basic services that the local officials of Mahayag are providing to their people after its inauguration recently. Zambosur First Gentleman, Congressman Tony Cerilles on behalf of his wife-governor Auring graced the simultaneous blessing and inauguration of the P28-Million Mahayag Local Water System and newly renovated Mahayag Municipal Hospital last July 23. In his message, the political patriarch of the province praised Mayor Paulino Fanilag, Sr. and the Sangguniang Bayan led by Vice Mayor Lorna Espina for their political will in taking over the management and operation of then Mahayag  district  hospital vacated by the provincial government as the latter is maintaining a much bigger health facility in the city known as Zamboanga del Sur Medical Center. Shielded with tarpaulins, the Mahayag constituents like senior citizens, barangay officials, students and teachers listened attentively to the congressman telling them of the Provincial Government’s plan to give autonomy to the local government units in operating a municipal hospital. “The province of Zamboanga del Sur has long been planning for this.  In fact, during the second term of Governor Cerilles she told the local officials them of the possibility of establishing their own mini-hospital,” the First Gentleman of the province said. This is the reason why LGUs like Mahayag municipality were challenged to operate a municipal hospital.  It would be an advantage to the LGU to operate because of the capitation share from PhilHealth, he added. Mahayag followed Dinas municipality to take over operation of a primary hospital after the Provincial Government gave them the opportunity to operate a health facility that could cater the minor ailments of their constituents. According to Mayor Fanilag, they would hire at least six doctors to cater the health needs of Mahayag and neighboring towns like Josefina, Dumingag, Don Victoriano (Misamis Occidental) Fanilag expressed confidence that the LGU can sustain the operation of the hospital with at least 3,000 households enrolled at PhilHealth.  “If the people cooperate, no reason we can’t sustain this hospital,” he said. Meantime, Vice Mayor Espina said that they are waiting for the license to operate to be issued by the Department of Health.  Atty. Timothy Galvez, chief of DOH licensing division was there during the inauguration for the actual inspection of the health facility. (Remai S. Alejado/Zambosur Press Bureau)