The Southern Tagalog Regional Hospital (STRH), formerly known as Bacoor District Hospital, was turned over to the Department of Health recently, to make health services readily available and accessible 24/7 not only to Caviteños but nearby provinces, as well.
The turnover ceremony was attended by Cavite government officials led by Rep. Strike B. Revilla, Vice Gov. Jolo Revilla III, Mayor Lani Mercado-Revilla, Undersecretary Gerardo C. Bayugo, Assistant Secretary Maria Francia M. Laxamana and Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo.
“I applaud the Caviteños for initiating the establishment of this facility and envisioning a public hospital that will accommodate the medical needs, especially of the unprivileged sector of our society. Rest assured we will continue its vision of ensuring effective and efficient public health service to all,” Janairo stated.
He said that the health facility will not only cater to the people of the province of Cavite but the whole of Calabarzon, as well.
“We now have two apex hospitals in the region that will provide health care to all,” the elated official said.
The Bacoor District Hospital was established by the provincial government in 2011 by virtue of Sangguniang Panlalawigan Resolution 084 2012 and served as the primary public hospital due to lack of government health facility in the locality.
The hospital sits in a 5,000-square-meter lot donated by then-Sen. Ramon Revilla Sr. In 2010 Sen. Bong Revilla Jr. and Lani initiated the establishment of the hospital. From 2010 to 2018 the hospital has undergone various construction, renovation and improvement, and was modernized under the DOH-Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP) with a total budget of P241.5 million for infrastructure.
The DOH-HFEP program aims to upgrade health facilities and provide training to health professionals, and improve access of people to quality health-care services by improving the delivery of basic essential, as well as specialized health services in the community.
The proposal of the Bacoor District Hospital to Southern Tagalog Regional Hospital was initiated by Rep. Strike in House Bill 6618 during the convention of the 17th Congress in 2016.
Janairo, on November 9, 2018, forged a tripartite agreement between the Department of Health (DOH), Cavite provincial and Bacoor city officials to renovate the 10-bed Bacoor District Hospital and improve its services
Janairo disclosed that under the agreement, the parties agreed to provide the necessary budget, personnel, supplies and equipment as appropriate in providing primary and, eventually, secondary healthcare services to indigent residents.
The Southern Tagalog Regional Hospital is a DOH and PhilHealth accredited Level 1 health facility since 2013 with a 50-bed capacity.
Among its existing services includes outpatient consultation for Pediatrics, Medicine, OB/GYNE and Surgery. It has a secondary clinical laboratory for blood services, pharmacy, first level x-ray services and ultrasound services.
Other services include dental, family planning, bemonc, newborn screening with hearing test, VIA examination for cervical cancer and an animal bite treatment center, and a mother baby friendly facility that strictly promotes breastfeeding.
Other key officials who were instrumental in the establishment of STRH who graced the turnover ceremony were former Senator and Chairman of Committee on Health Sen. JV Ejercito and Rep. Angelina Tan of the fourth District of Quezon.