LAGAWE, Ifugao, Aug. 6(PIA)– Governor Jerry Dalipog vowed that the construction of the long delayed and controversial new Ifugao General Hospital (IGH) located at Barangay Poblacion North of this town will be completed within his term.
During the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Forum on Good Governance convened by the Lagawe Mission recently, the newly assumed governor said he will move to finish the project to serve its purpose.
Dalipog, an engineer by profession, said he already contacted the designer of the IGH to come and make an assessment whether the building can be continued or totally demolished and replaced with a new one.
The construction of the new IGH was funded by the Department of Health (DOH) under its Health Facilities Enhancement Program . It began construction in 2011 with Phase 1 costing P50 million. Phase 2 has a budget of P100M and Phase 3 costs P72M.
The construction was suspended in November 2013 due to alleged irregularities discovered in Phase 1 manifested by structural defects, and Phase 2 for using substandard materials after a series of tests conducted by provincial and DOH officials following reports of alleged anomalies. They agreed for its suspension and organized a team composed of government and private sector experts to conduct technical evaluation and assessment to ascertain structural integrity.
The Cordillera Regional Project Monitoring Committee (RPMC) in April 2019 together with staff from the DPWH-CAR and Regional Development Council and a private sector representative conducted an onsite inspection and assessment of the structural retrofitting done on the main building.
The results of the assessment will be the basis whether or not to proceed with Phase 3 of the project involving site preparation, masonry work, grouted riprap, tile works, railings, doors and windows, plumbing and structural trusses.
The DOH CAR has long been wanting for the IGH to be fully operational because of the importance of quality health services accessible to the people especially the sick needing immediate health intervention.**JDP/DBC-PIA CAR
