Stakeholders lay the time capsule to mark the start of the construction of a new health center in Barangay Cabatbatan, San Fernando. (L to R) DOH-7 Development Management Officer Alma Ludalin Naboya, Municipal Health Officer Alfredo Manugas VI, Municipal Administrator Ricci Regen Reluya, Councilor Philip Jude “PJ” Medalla, and SEDC Community Relations Officer Gines Boltron. /Contributed Photo
CEBU CITY, Philippines – The hinterland barangay of Cabatbatan in San Fernando town will soon have its own health center.
Stakeholders including officials of the Solid Earth Development Corp. (SEDC) and barangay officials broke ground recently to already mark the start of the construction project.
The Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the Department of Health allocated P1.7 million for the project that will be built on a 188 square meter donated lot located in Sitio Labigan.
Barangay Captain Tomas Baclaan wrote SEDC officials on February 19, 2018 to seek assistance for the establishment of a health center in their area to provide health workers a place to stay.
On April 2018, SEDC made a donation of the 188 square meter lot.
Nurse Florie Neil Arreglo and midwife Cecilia Deguinon said that their barangay was already in need of a health center especially with their “growing health care needs” that comes with population growth.
The Barangay Cabatbatan health center will be equipped with a room for use in family health services like family planning and another one that will be used by nurses and midwives who cater to pre-natal check-ups and counselling. The structure will also be designed with a ramp for persons with disabilities.
Mitzie Almira I. Carin, SEDC division manager for human resources and administration, said the health station will be the first of its kind in San Fernando town in south Cebu because it will be designed to comply with the latest DOH standards for a primary care facility.
The recent groundbreaking ceremony was also attended by Municipal Administrator Ricci Regen G. Reluya; Councilor Philip John D. Medalla, the chairman of the municipal council’s health committee; Dr. Alfredo P. Manugas VI, the municipal health officer; and DOH-7 Development Management Officer Alma Ludalin G. Naboya./dcb