GUIMARAS – “Finally natuman gid man,” Gov. JC Rahman A. Nava declared as this province marked a historic milestone in its healthcare development with the groundbreaking ceremony for the Dr. Catalino Gallego Nava Provincial Hospital (DCGNPH) Outpatient Care Center, a facility designed to enhance medical services and improve patient care efficiency.
The groundbreaking for the four-storey facility was held on January 23, 2025 at San Miguel, Jordan town, marking a major milestone in the expansion of outpatient services for the community, which also coincides with the 50th anniversary of Dr. Catalino Gallego Nava Provincial Hospital.
The outpatient facility designed by hospital architecture firm John Ryan Santos+Partners will house the primary care facility (pharmacy, radiology, minor surgery), dialysis station, ambulatory surgical clinic, physical therapy, and rehabilitation, among others. The firm provided its services for free.
Gov. Nava expressed enthusiasm about the project, stating, “Malawig-lawig man nga proseso and damo nga pagpaninguha man sang nagkalain-lain nga opisina naton and finally we’re here for the groundbreaking. Ang healthcare program isa ni sa pinaka-priority naton under the Kabataan FIRST. Ang handum naton nga mahagan-hagan ang referrals sa probinsiya kag siyudad sang Iloilo. Amo ni ang aton nga rason kun ngaa nga ginatinguhaan ta gid nga ma-improbar ang aton nga healthcare services sa aton probinsiya. We really want to deliver the best possible healthcare for our constituency and it will not only mean the infrastructure and equipment. I know it should be mainly through the right personnel that we should have diri sa aton hospital.”
He added that the drive to strengthen outpatient care in the province is also in preparation for the full implementation of the universal health care (UHC). This includes the improvements of Buenavista Emergency Hospital (BEH) and Nueva Valencia District Hospital.
“We are trying to package everything. This is in preparation for the UHC, that we have a stronger outpatient services eventually. Not only here with Dr. Catalino Gallego Nava eventually medical center, but as well as to the other facilities. We have ongoing improvement sa Nueva Valencia District Hospital amounting to P30 million. Sa BEH, the cost of the outpatient care facility amounts to P55 million,” he said.
The project that costs P167 million is expected to be completed by the first semester of 2026. P90 million in funding for the project came from the Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) of the Department of Health (DOH) through the efforts of Congresswoman Ma. Lucille L. Nava, P20 million from Sen. Pia Cayetano that went through the Department of Public Works and Highways, and the P57 million is from the provincial government fund, according to Gov. Nava.
DOH Region 6 director Dr. Anabelle Yumang lauded the officials of the provincial government for ensuring quality healthcare for the Guimarasnons.
“With the Department of Health, we are already implementing our universal healthcare which means that the people have already access to quality health services. This four-storey outpatient complex is one way of ensuring that the access of the people of Guimaras will be here for you and I think you have the seven-storey building for your hospital which also means that the access to quality health services especially for a Level I or Level II services for all patients must be here in the province of Guimaras. I am thankful to Gov. Nava and Congresswoman Nava for they really think what is good for the people of Guimaras, that’s why I’m so happy that this hospital will be expanded soon to a Level II hospital because the distance of this province to mainland is about 20 minutes of travel by boat. So, 20 minutes in healthcare is very long… especially if a patient is very critical,” Dr. Yumang said.
For his part, Architect John Ryan Santos, co-founder of John Ryan Santos+Partners who was also present at the groundbreaking ceremony, was pleased with the rapid development of the project.
“We’ve made it our mission to be the champion of improving healthcare facilities around the country and that’s the reason why we’re here today. So, noong dumating ’yung aming opportunity to actually be of help to a public facility, we took it immediately. Sabi namin kay Gov, ‘tulong kami. We’ll help you on this one because it’s a chance for us to really give back sa aming sinumpaang practice in healthcare design. Seeing this now from where we started a year ago, nakakataba po ng puso seeing everybody supporting this. You know, things like these happen this fast. Nagulat ako na we only started a year ago pala and now, nandito na tayo agad. Napakabilis!” he said.
Also in attendance during the historic activity were Department of Public Works and Highways-Guimaras District Engineer Randolfo Melosantos, members of the 10th Sangguniang Panlalawigan, municipal mayors, DCGNPH personnel headed by chief of hospital Dr. Allain Babao, and department heads of the provincial government./PN
