Republic Act No. 11564, or the law creating the Bacolod City General Hospital, was signed by President Rodrigo Duterte in Malacañang yesterday afternoon.
“It is with great honor that I bring news that House Bill No. 6731 that we authored has been signed into law by Duterte as RA 11564,” Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya posted on his Facebook account.
We thank President Duterte for enacting our proposed measure. We extend our gratitude as well to Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri for filing the Senate counterpart bill, Senator Bong Go for approving our bill in the Senate Committee on Health and Demography and sponsoring the bill in the Senate floor, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon for the budget allotment amendment, Rep. Angelina Tan for approving the bill in the House Committee on Health, Health Secretary Francisco Duque, and the DOH for their support, our colleagues in Congress for voting in favor, and the Bacolod City government for its support, Gasataya added.
“Finally, our dream of having our own hospital in Bacolod City will soon be realized,” he said.
The national government will fund the hospital construction, under the 2022 General Appropriations Act, through the Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the DOH.
The Senate allotted P600 million for its establishment.
Gasataya earlier said the construction of the hospital may start next year. At the moment, they are yet to identify where it will be constructed.
The measure was among the 16 legislative bills signed into law by Duterte during the ceremonial signing in Malacañan Palace.
Majority of the bills address the establishment of public hospitals and increase the bed capacities of existing hospitals across the country.
Present during the ceremony were Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, House Speaker Lord Allan Jay Velasco, House Majority Floor Leader Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, and Senator Go, among others.*
