The Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) here is hiring an additional 547 medical, administrative, and other staff as part of its expansion program under the Republic Act 11441.

As of Thursday, the hospital management said its Human Resource Management Office is accepting applications until Oct. 3, 2021.

Bacolod City Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya, who authored the expansion bill in the House of Representatives, said the available positions granted by the Department of Budget and Management will address the hospital’s staffing deficiency and allow for the opening of more coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) beds.

“I am glad to share the news as a result of RA 11441. We thank the national government for its continued support to the health needs of the Bacolodnons,” the lawmaker said in a statement.

Signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on Aug. 28, 2019, the law provides for the increase in bed capacity of CLMMRH, the only Department of Health (DOH)-retained hospital on Negros Island, from 400 to 1,000 beds and authorizes the increase of its personnel.

The hiring of additional employees should be corresponding to the upgrading of the hospital’s services and facilities and increase in bed capacity, it added.

Among the vacant positions are 13 for medical specialist IV; 15 – medical specialist III; 20 – medical specialist II; 35 – medical officer IV; 66 – medical officer III; 5 – Nurse V; 12 – Nurse IV; 65 – Nurse III; 120 – Nurse II; and 40 – Nurse I.

Gasataya said Dr. Julius Drilon, hospital chief of CLMMRH, informed him the expansion will also include additional neonatal and critical care units.

“They have already started the strategic planning for construction of additional infrastructure,” he added.

Gasataya also said that he is proposing an additional PHP60 million for infrastructure and PHP50 million for hospital equipment of the CLMMRH under the DOH Health Facilities Enhancement Program. (PNA)