Tabuk City, Kalinga – As the infirmary is a much-needed facility in the municipality of Tinglayan, Mayor Sacrament Gumilab gave a commitment to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Kalinga to expedite the process of getting the necessary requirements to start the construction of the edifice.
Kalinga PLGU earlier sought to realign the P30M share of Tinglayan from the P999M loan of the provincial government, but Tinglayan officials opposed the request and asked that their share be not taken from them.
Gumilab, in an interview, said during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, they experienced difficulties in attending to the medical needs and treatment of their constituents as some were not accommodated by hospitals in Tabuk.
The mayor said the infirmary shall provide them with means to respond to the needs of the sick without having to transport them to other places to be treated.
The realignment plan was later reversed and the Kalinga PLGU with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan approved the request of Tinglayan LGU to keep their P30M budget for the infirmary.
The plan for realigning the fund was made by the provincial government as no DOH permit for the construction of the building is issued yet.
Additionally, the lack of funds in providing wages for health personnel by the provincial government is another reason – meaning even if the infirmary is built if there are no personnel to man it, it shall not serve its purpose.
This decision of the provincial government prompted Gumilab, along with the local officials of Tinglayan, to join the session on December 6, 2022.
During said session, Mayor Sacrament Gumilab expressed their dismay after receiving the news.
He explained the construction of the infirmary is the topmost priority of the municipal government since Tinglayan is one of the municipalities in Kalinga that does not have a district hospital at the moment.
With the distance, Tinglayan locals also need to travel for hours just to reach hospitals situated in the province’s capital. Due to tribal conflicts, yTinglayans are also afraid of going to Bontoc for their medical needs.
“Considering that the construction of the Umunnoyan Hospital is the topmost priority of the municipality of Tinglayan, we came here to say that this amount should be retained and not be realigned as requested by the governor,” he said.
He added the rural health unit in the locality could not cater to all patients in the 20 barangays of Tinglayan, thus the need to construct an infirmary.
The mayor previously said the construction of the hospital will not only provide health care services to yTinglayans but also provide job opportunities to graduates of medical courses who are from the municipality.
Considering said reason, Kalinga PLGU and the august body heeded the request but required the local government unit to expedite the process of completing needed documents.
The local government must get a certificate stating the need for a new infirmary in Tinglayan and a permit for the construction of the edifice from the Department of Health.
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