Since poor patients are racing against the clock, the best approach at present to upgrade the Provincial Hospital in Danao City is to get funded by the local government unit.
This was the view of Capitol Piso Health Consultant Dr. Nikki Catalan during the health committee hearing of the Provincial Board (PB) on recently filed legislation to upgrade the Provincial Hospital in Danao City through a Congressional act.
Dr. Catalan, a resource person invited by the PB’s committee on health, said, “Pursuing re-nationalization will likely prolong improvements because it requires the passage of a national bill, unlike provincial initiatives that are already in motion.”
“The consensus was clear: what matters most is ensuring timely improvements, strengthening services, and delivering the best possible care to our fellow Cebuanos without delay,” Dr. Catalan added.
Under the administration of People’s Governor Pamela Baricuatro, health is a top priority on her agenda, which aims at bringing free and quality medical services closer to the people.
According to Dr. Catalan, the hospital in Danao City, along with 15 other district and provincial hospitals, has already allotted a capital outlay for upgrades in the proposed 2026 budget.
Second District PB Member Stanley Caminero, the chairman of the committee on health and a physician, asked during the hearing whether the Department of Health (DOH) could upgrade the provincial hospital in Danao City faster than the Capitol, given that Governor Baricuatro remains determined to expedite her health reforms.
Caminero pointed to the DOH-run Eversley Childs Sanitarium and General Hospital, which has been operating for years as a Level 1 facility and has yet to achieve Level 2 status.
In 2019, Congressman Jonas Cortes of the sixth district authored legislation that increased Eversley hospital’s capacity from 50 beds to 200. Six years later, Eversley hospital remains at Level 1.
