Contributed article by Glen Ramos

MANILA, Philippines — Recognizing the health needs and aspiring to make health services readily available and accessible 24/7 to constituents, Cavite government officials on Wednesday (22 January 2020) led by Congressman Strike B. Revilla, Vice – Governor Jolo M. Revilla and Mayor Lani Mercado-Revilla, turned-over the Southern Tagalog Regional Hospital (STRH), formerly known as Bacoor District Hospital to the Department of Health.

The DOH was ably represented by Undersecretary Gerardo C. Bayugo, Assistant Secretary Maria Francia M. Laxamana and Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo during the turn-over ceremony that would kick-off

appropriate administration, supervision and a unified implementation of health programs towards effective health care delivery in the community by DOH and LGU.

“I applaud the Cavitenos for initiating the establishment of this facility and envisioning a public hospital that will accommodate the medical needs especially of the unprivileged sector of our society. Rest assured we will continue its vision of ensuring effective and efficient public health service to all,” DOH Regional Director Janairo said during his acceptance speech.

“This health facility will not only cater to the people of the province of Cavite but the whole of CALABARZON as well. We now have two apex hospitals in the region that will provide health care to all,” Janairo added.  

The Bacoor District Hospital was established by the provincial government in 2011 by virtue of Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution No. 084 2012 and served as the primary public hospital due to lack of government health facility in the locality.

The hospital sits in a 5,000 square meter lot donated by then Senator Ramon Revilla Sr.

In 2010 Senator Bong Revilla Jr. and Mayor Lani-Mercado-Revilla initiated the establishment of the hospital.

From 2010-2018 the hospital has undergone various constructions, renovations and improvements and was modernized under the DOH-Health Facility Enhancement Program (HFEP) with a total budget of Php241.5 million for infrastructure.

The DOH – HFEP program aims to upgrade health facilities and provide training to health professionals and improve access of people to quality health care services by improving the delivery of basic, essential as well as specialized health services in the community.

The proposal of the Bacoor District Hospital to Southern Tagalog Regional Hospital was initiated by Congressman Strike B. Revilla in House Bill 6618 during the convention of the 17th Congress in 2016.

Regional Director Janairo, on November 9, 2018, forged a tripartite agreement between the Department of Health (DOH), Cavite provincial and Bacoor city officials to renovate the 10-bed Bacoor District Hospital and improve its services

Janairo disclosed that under the agreement, the parties agreed to provide the necessary budget, personnel, supplies and equipment as appropriate in providing primary and eventually secondary healthcare services to indigent residents.

The Southern Tagalog Regional Hospital is a DOH and Philhealth accredited Level 1 health facility since 2013 with a 50-bed capacity.

Among its existing services includes outpati8nt consultation for Pediatrics, Medicine, OB/GYNE and Surgery. It has a secondary clinical laboratory for blood services, pharmacy, first level x-ray services and ultrasound services.

Other services include dental, family planning, bemonc (basic emergency obstetrics and newborn care), newborn screening with hearing test, VIA examination for cervical cancer and an animal bite treatment center and a mother baby friendly facility that strictly promotes breastfeeding.

Other key officials who were instrumental in the establishment of STRH who graced the turn-over ceremony were former Senator and Chairman of Committee on Health Senator JV Ejercito and Congresswoman Angelina Tan of the 4th District of Quezon. (IAMIGO/BENJIE CUARESMA/Currentph.com)