State-owned Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP) has granted P1.286-billion in funding support to a Batangas-based healthcare institution to enhance the delivery of basic and specialized health services in Calabarzon, a top official said.
DBP President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel G. Herbosa said the loan extended to Global East Medical Center Lipa, Inc. (GEAMC) under the Bank’s Strategic Healthcare Investments for Enhanced Lending & Development (SHIELD) program will finance the construction of the first and only heart and brain center in Region IV-A.
“DBP’s credit support to GEAMC Lipa is in line with the Bank’s thrust of providing critical financial support to private healthcare providers for the improvement of the delivery of healthcare services to the Filipino people, especially those in the countryside,” Herbosa said.
DBP is the sixth largest bank in the country in terms of assets and provides credit support to four strategic sectors of the economy – infrastructure and logistics; micro, small and medium enterprises; environment; social services and community development.
Global East Medical Center Lipa Inc. is a private corporation owned and operated by practicing medical practitioners and business experts in Lipa City. The new facility is expected to bolster the capacity of the region to cater to the growing demand for medical services which currently stands at 219,235 inpatient bed days and 150,621 outpatient visits.
Herbosa said that under the agreement, P1.136-billion will be utilized to partially finance the construction of a seven-storey Level 2 hospital strategically located along the J. P. Laurel National Highway in Lipa City while the remaining P150-million will cover the acquisition of medical equipment and machineries.
He said that the projected expansion is a boon to the people of Lipa City and nearby municipalities, especially for patients with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases being managed invasively or surgically.
“The project is also expected to decongest Metro Manila-based specialty hospitals while improving the bed capacity in the province from 3,088 to 3,296 or a bed to population ratio of 1:817,” Herbosa said.
DBP Executive Vice President for Development Lending Paul D. Lazaro said that as of May 31, 2022, DBP has approved 133 accounts under the SHIELD Program for a total of P35-billion with 20 of the projects located in Southern Luzon with aggregate funding of P6.5-billion.
“DBP is one with the National Government in its thrust to build specialty hospitals in various parts of the country, boost the local healthcare industry and provide accessible, quality healthcare services to the Filipino people,” Lazaro said. (DBP)
