Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez has said the city government is considering a public-private partnership (PPP) scheme for the operation of the soon-to-rise Bacolod City General Hospital.
“We are actually entertaining a PPP for the proposed city hospital, which is being started as we speak,” Benitez said in his talk during the hybrid Liveable Cities Lab event on Wednesday afternoon.
The construction of the PHP800-million hospital main building and other facilities on a donated land in Barangay Vista Alegre is being funded by the national government through the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
“We would like to share this with the experts especially those in the medical industry so they would be able to properly handle our hospital,” Benitez said.
Although he did not provide specific details on the proponent, the mayor said “it’s the same group that made the PPP proposal with the City of Makati”.
Earlier this week, Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya announced that the construction of the ancillary facilities of the Bacolod City General Hospital is ongoing.
Meanwhile, works for the hospital’s main building are currently under the pre-procurement process.
“The technical working group has made recommendations that probably this week, we will be able to have a pre-bid conference,” Loben Rafael Ceballos, officer-in-charge of the City Engineer’s Office, said.
During the groundbreaking last September, it was announced that the first phase, which costs PHP200 million and will be implemented by the DPWH-Western Visayas, involves the construction of a multi-purpose building, comprising three separate structures, including a dietary building, a morgue, and a linen and laundry office.
Meanwhile, the construction of the four-story main hospital building, with a project cost of at least PHP600 million, will be implemented by the DOH-Western Visayas through the city government with funds from DOH-Health Facilities Enhancement Program.
Republic Act 11564, which was signed into law by former President Rodrigo Duterte on June 24, 2021, establishes the Bacolod City General Hospital. (PNA)
