By ERWIN ‘AMBO’ DELILAN
LET’S CALL it “raiz de la grandeza” (root of greatness).
It’s the soon-to-be-constructed P800-million Bacolod City General Hospital (BCGH).
The groundbreaking for its multi-purpose hall in Barangay Vista Alegre, Bacolod City on Sept. 9 was a remarkable attestation that, indeed, Rep. Greg Gasayata has started to entrench such a root for Bacolodnons’ sake.
BCGH, therefore, could be Greg’s formidable legacy to recompense Bacolodnons’ ultimate trust in him as their “not fussy” public servant for 21 years now.
Greg ain’t a classic “moneyed politico” yet he soared to eminence beyond compare. Surreal, but factual!
Just a throwback: Greg’s father was just a tricycle driver while his mother was a church worker. Everybody knows that he was just an anchorman of Bombo Radyo-Bacolod. Yet, luck sided with him when he decided to venture in the “rough road” of politics.
In 2001, he ran for councilor in Bacolod and won. Then he vigorously completed his three terms in 2010.
From politics, he was physically transplanted to the Bacolod City Water District (BACIWA) as director.
In 2013, he ran for vice mayor, won and served until 2016.
In between, however, he became mayor when then mayor Monico Puentevella was suspended for 90 days starting in November 2015.
Upon completion his tour of duty as one-term vice mayor, he ran for congressman and triumphed, too.
To date, he’s now serving his third and final term as solon of the Lone District of the City of Bacolod.
NOT ‘A WALK IN THE PARK’
Of course, Greg’s journey in politics-slash-public service ain’t “a walk in the park”. He’s also “more than a controversial figure” in the “City of Smiles”, especially during the 2019 mid-term local elections. Too, he was bombarded left and right by the some foulest issues both in legacy and social media.
But then again, he’s also “more than lucky”. He surmounted even those personal or below-the-belt attacks.
In this year’s national and local elections, Greg’s “political potency” was tested anew. His declaration of neutrality between his long-time political ally, former mayor Bing Leonardia, and newly-found political friend, elected Mayor Albee Benitez, put him in the “hot seat”. He was “politically roasted”. Yet, he stood tall still.
As a runaway winner in the congressional race with 185,460 votes over challenger Dan Atayde’s 104,879, Greg was branded a “proverbial” political entity in Bacolod.
NOT ORDINARY
But what made him an “equipollent” now is the soon to be constructed BCGH. Though it’s far from the city proper, BCGH is projected to definitely impact the city’s health and economic landscapes.
Well, making the “impossible possible”, Greg authored House Bill No. 6731 (An Act Establishing BCGH). Senator-turned-Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri volunteered to be the co-author of HB 6731 in the Senate. Providentially, their unison comes to fruition.
Appreciating the necessity, beneficiality and practicability of BCGH, then President Rodrigo Duterte on June 24, 2021 inked Republic Act (R.A.) No. 11564 creating such and appropriating funds thereof.
Government’s very first commitment: P200 million.
But feeling “bitin”, Zubiri, another “hero” in the offing for this BCGH, promised an additional of P400 million.
The main hospital building per se will cost P600 million while the annex multi-purpose hall will amount to another P200-million.
Not an ordinary hospital, hence.
With BCGH to be lolling on 3.5-hectare lot property surrounded by sugarcane plantations donated by the Gensoli family, it’s pretty clear that it’ll be servicing the rural communities, including the remotest sitios in Bacolod.
And such is a manifestation that Greg’s BCGH will be a tangible proof later of his “noblest intention” of bringing the premium health care services closer to his ordinary-cum-poor constituents.
Beyond this legacy, Greg’s astounding asset is really his “indomitable spirit” in public service.
World-acclaimed American pediatrician and public health activist Irwin Redlener once enunciated that “hospitals are about healing.”
And speaking of healing, such has the essence of restoring one’s dignity.
And once a dignity is restored, the right to a dignified life is also regained.
Therefore, sans further ado, BCGH will truly be Greg’s raiz de la grandeza that will surely make him a “solidest” public servant Bacolod ever had./PN
