CULASI, Antique — The Chiefs of Hospitals of the Culasi District Hospital and Justice Calixto O. Zaldivar Memorial Hospital in Pandan town said Thursday the upgrading of projects would really benefit their municipalities and neighboring towns.
Dr. Rebecca V. Aquirre of the Culasi District Hospital said the PHP125 million budget from the Department of Health (DOH) would be used for the construction of the hospital’s second floor, which will house another 25-bed capacity ward. Currently, the hospital only has a 25-bed capacity.
“We are catering to more patients and so we really need the expansion,” she said, noting that the hospital was constructed in 1959 and has remained at Level I due to lack of equipment and bed capacity.
Dr. Melendie Fabilla Sanchez of the Justice Calixto O. Zaldivar Memorial Hospital said that right now, the hospital is just an infirmary but with the upgrade, it would be reclassified as Level I, which is a small infirmary that provides initial treatment for cases that require immediate attention. It also gives primary care for prevalent diseases in the area.
The Justice Calixto O. Zaldivar Memorial Hospital is a recipient of PHP102 million from the DOH that would be used for 25 additional beds, making it a 50-bed capacity hospital.
Senator Loren Legarda led the groundbreaking ceremony on Thursday, together with Antique Governor Rhodora J. Cadiao, Vice Governor Edgar Denosta, and other local officials.
The Antique government credits Legarda, the Senate Committee chair on Finance, as being instrumental in putting the budgetary requirements through the DOH. (Annabel Consuelo Petinglay/PNA)
