DOH sets P128M for Kalinga hospitals, rural health units

By Peter A. Balocnit

TABUK CITY, Kalinga - - District hospitals and rural health units in the province were all given funding assistance this year from the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) of the Department of Health for building construction and purchase of equipment.

Romulo Gaerlan, provincial health officer,  said the Special Allotment Release Order (SARO) was approved.

“Except for the P33 million construction of a 50-bed payward of the Kalinga Provincial Hospital which was already bid, others are scheduled for bidding,” he said.

Marilou Anniban, technical department staff of the Provincial Health Office said P80.8 million was allotted for buildings and P47.6 million for facility equipment.

Among district hospitals, the biggest pie of P20 million  was allotted  to Pinukpuk DH; P5 million each for Tanudan and Lubuagan DHs, P2 million for the Juan M. Duyan DH in Rizal and  P1M for Western Kalinga DH in Balbalan.

For the RHUs, RHU1 in Taga, Pinukpuk  gets P1M; RHU Tinglayan, P2M; RHU Rizal, P2.5M; RHU Calanan, P1.5M and P1 million for the Gabriela Mija-Kim Medical Center in Agbannawag,this city.

On equipment allocation, the lion share  was allotted  to  Pinukpuk DH amounting to P10 million; P1.5M  each to  Tanudan  and  Rizal DHs; P1M each for  RHU 1 in Pinukpuk, RHU main in Balbalan, RHU main in Pasil, RHU Rizal and RHU Calanan, Tabuk City, and P1.5M for RHU Tinglayan.

From 2007-2010, records from the technical department of PHO show a total of P11.6 million was allotted for equipment from HFEP for the KPH and 3 RHUs while P100,000.00 was given to Bulanao barangay health station. Of the total, P7 million worth of equipments went to KPH during the same period.

The 23 barangay health stations in Kalinga were also assisted by DOH from 2007-2010 through  the HFEP program- P22.8 million  for  equipments  and P1.8M on infrastructure.