The Department of Health-Cordillera has allotted P50 million for the lone hospital in Lagawe, Ifugao, whose construction started more than a decade ago.
The provision of funds to complete the long-delayed construction of the Ifugao General Hospital is contained in a memorandum of agreement signed by DOH-Cordillera Director Rio L. Magpantay, Asst. Director Janice Z. Bugtong, and Gov. Jerry Dalipog on Oct. 6.
Government offices conducted several inspections to ensure the structural integrity of the hospital prior to the MOA signing, according to a release posted by the DOH-Cordillera.
The funds, which will be turned over to provincial government, were allotted from the DOH Health Facilities Enhancement Program to complete the construction of the three-story, 100 bed-capacity health facility.
The DOH reported the Mines and Geosciences Bureau-Cordillera has declared the site of the IGH as safe.
The DOH added the defects that were earlier reported have been addressed.
“All columns, beams, and some roof beams of the structure were retrofitted using carbon fiber reinforced polymer. This was done to ensure that the building could sustain maximum load and strong earthquake or ground shaking,” the DOH-CAR release added.
The construction of the IGH was proposed in 2008 to replace the old general hospital, but project implementation was laden with issues, particularly concerns on ground stability and building integrity.
The Regional Project Monitoring Committee, a body headed by the National Economic Development Authority initiated a regular inspection of the hospital’s construction, following issues raised on the facility’s structural integrity.
In 2013, Ifugao provincial officials and the DOH suspended the construction of the hospital, after concerned residents launched an online petition to halt the project, again due to the supposed violations of the contractor of engineering protocols that cast doubts on the building’s integrity.
Magpantay assured the DOH-Cordillera will fulfill its obligations to ensure the timely completion of the project. The IGH is expected to be operational by December this year. – Jane B. Cadalig
