CAPIZ – Capiz 1st District Representative Howard A. Guintu appealed to the Senate Committee on Health to endorse House Bill No. 8474 for plenary consideration and approval, emphasizing the urgent need to improve healthcare services in Capiz.
Speaking during the committee’s public hearing, Guintu expressed his full support for House Bill No. 8474, which seeks to upgrade the Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital in Barangay Lanot, Roxas City, into a Level III general hospital to be known as the Capiz Medical Center.
Guintu said he is backing the measure despite having his own proposed legislation, House Bill No. 8475, which seeks to establish the Capiz General Hospital, a Level III general hospital in the Municipality of Pontevedra, Capiz.
He explained that while every legislator hopes to establish a Level III hospital in their respective districts to ensure better medical care for their constituents, he chose to prioritize the establishment of the Capiz Medical Center because of its immediate importance to the province’s healthcare system.
Guintu said he has entrusted to the committee the appropriate course of action regarding House Bill No. 8475, noting that the proposed Capiz General Hospital would also help address the healthcare needs of the First District of Capiz and assist local government units that continue to struggle with limited medical resources.
The lawmaker pointed out that the Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital continues to receive patients not only from across Capiz but also from neighboring provinces, including Masbate and Romblon. As a result, he said the hospital is operating beyond its intended capacity and can no longer accommodate all patients requiring medical care.
He added that due to the lack of specialized facilities and services in Capiz, many patients are forced to travel to Iloilo to receive treatment. Even hospitals within the First District refer patients to the Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital because they lack the necessary equipment and specialized services. When the provincial hospital reaches full capacity, patients are subsequently referred to hospitals in Iloilo.
Guintu concluded his presentation by urging the committee to favorably endorse House Bill No. 8474 for plenary consideration and eventual approval by the Senate, saying the measure would help expand healthcare capacity and improve access to quality medical services for the people of Capiz and neighboring provinces.
