THE House of Representatives has always provided the needed budgetary support for the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) in every aspect, including personnel salaries and benefits, operational support, infrastructure requirements, and even funding for medical aid for indigent patients.

This was assured by Deputy Majority Leaders Janette Garin and Erwin Tulfo as they acknowledged the support of the House, under the leadership of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, to the health program of the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr.

During the deliberation of the 2023 PGH budget, much discussion was made on improving the infrastructure of the said medical institutions by converting its buildings into high-rises.

“Patuloy na tinutulungan ng Kongreso yung PGH. Nung 2023 dahil sa kumpas nga ni Speaker Martin Romualdez, ang sabi nya, bawat buhay mahalaga, dapat tutukan ang kalusugan. Nagpa-soil test nga para i-transform into high rise buildings ‘yung mga bagong ilalagay doon para ma maximize ‘yung space (ng PGH),” Garin, a former DOH secretary, said during the daily press briefings at the House.

Just Recently the PGH main building was struck by fire.

Garin then enumerated the budgetary support for PGH for the years 2023 and 2024. For 2023, Garin noted, Congress has allotted a total of P7.57 billion for PGH broken down as follows: P2.79 billion for personnel services, P2.62 billion for maintenance and operating expenses, and P1.2 billion for capital outlay.

This includes P126.9 million for the hazard pay for healthcare workers, P828.27 million for medical assistance for indigent patients, and the repair and rehabilitation of buildings, including multispecialty structures.

For 2024, Congress has allotted a total of P7.04 billion for PGH, broken down as follows: P2.89 billion for personnel services, P2.07 billion for MOOE, and P1 billion for capital outlay.

This includes P77.7 million in personnel benefits, P633.9 million in MAIP and funds for the Child Protection Unit, renovation of the natal ICU, and fire suppression and detection system.

“And yung sa fire suppression and detection system, binigyan sila ng P10 million na MOOE pero meron dun kaakibat na P250 million na capital outlay. Iyan po ang inallocate ng Kongreso, though our leaders, para sa Philippine General Hospital,” Garin said.

Tulfo said that although Congress has allocated the necessary funding to improve the facilities of PGH, he bared that the congestion in the medical facility makes it hard to initiate the necessary construction.

“Hindi naman po nagkulang ang Kongreso. Ang problema, iyong nakausap ko, iyong isang doctor ng PGH, I think that was a couple of months ago, sabi ko bakit hindi nare-repair doc iyong gusali ninyo?” Tulfo said.

“Sabi niya, saan po natin dadalhin Congressman iyong mga pasyente? Kasi pag ne-repair po natin, pukpok ng pukpok, ang dami pong gagalawin diyan, mga kuryente, rewire, mga tiles, where will we move them? Kaya pinaplano po nila ng maayos iyan, how they will attack this repair, rehab?” he added.

Meanwhile, Anakalusugan Partylist Rep. Ray Reyes said that in the spirit of congressional support for the healthcare priorities of the Marcos administration, the House Committee on Health approved the establishment of a Philippine Liver Center, another specialty hospital.

“Yung Liver Center ay isa sa mga naisip natin. Makikita po natin sa datos ngayon na tumataas na ang mga liver diseases natin dito sa Pilipinas. Siguro karamihan sa atin mahilig sa matatamis, matatabang pagkain sasamahan pa natin ng inom, ay talagang nabubugbog na po talaga yung ating atay,” Reyes said.

He said that much like the Philippine Cancer Center which recently held its groundbreaking ceremony through funding allocated by Congress, he said that the Liver Center aims to add to the list of specialty hospitals now operating in the country.

“Naka-tie-up din po ito sa Universal Health care din natin, na pag naagapan po ito sa mga early screenings at mga proper treatment, mapapalibre po ‘yung pag gamot, mapapamura din po yung pag treatment at mas gaganda yung quality ng buhay ng mga Pilipino,” Reyes said.

Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos commended the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP)-Manila District for the swift action during a fire that struck PGH Wednesday with no casualties reported.

According to Abalos, the quick response of firefighters put the fire out in 45 minutes, and most importantly saved the lives of individuals in the area, most particularly the patients, doctors, and nurses among others.

Reports said some 180 patients were safely evacuated when a thick smoke started billowing from the audio-visual room (AVR) at the back of Ward 1 of the hospital at around 3 p.m. With Joel dela Torre