Dagupan City, Jan. 4 - Typhoon Pepeng in October in 2009 left some P300 million in damages to the premier government hospital here. It was supposed to receive financial assistance from the national government but it was virtually left on its own.

Except for the buildings and manpower, the medical facility lost everything. The worst flood to hit Pangasinan particularly this city since 1972 swept away supplies, medicines, rice stocks, and other needs, and destroyed equipment worth millions. The center had to rise from scratch, so to speak.

Until now the supposed financial help from the national government has yet to come. Anyway, R1MC got an added boost when health Secretary Enrique Ona paid a surprise visit lately. Ona, it was gathered, expressed disbelief and could only nod his head in approval after personally witnessing the facility's quick recovery even without the promised manna from upstairs. He must have pledged to work for the release of more funds for the Center.

His directive to his staff was to see to it that all government health centers must be up to par with the private health facilities if not more efficient as far as services are concerned and the overall look and view must be pleasing to the eyes. That accounts for the ongoing facelift of the frontage of the hospital. A new fence is being constructed and the drainage system improved, especially so that the level of the hospital compound is lower than the newly-reconstructed national road.

Past_Present Chief