KORONADAL CITY, SOUTH COTABATO — South Cotabato is set to further strengthen its public healthcare system as the Provincial Government, in partnership with the MELCO Resorts Foundation, moves forward with ₱240 million worth of additional healthcare infrastructure for the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital (SCPH).
The new facilities are expected to expand the hospital’s capacity and improve the delivery of medical services to South Cotabateños, particularly as the provincial government continues to strengthen its Free Hospitalization and Cashier-less Hospital programs.
Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo Jr. said the partnership represents another significant step toward ensuring that South Cotabateños can access quality healthcare without being burdened by hospital expenses.
“This partnership with MELCO Resorts Foundation is a major investment in the health and welfare of our people. We are expanding our hospital not only to accommodate more patients, but to strengthen our commitment to free and accessible healthcare. We want every South Cotabateño to receive the medical care they need without worrying about the cost,” Tamayo said.
The project has already secured its permit to construct, paving the way for the implementation of the planned facilities at the existing Productivity and Technology (ProTech) Compound, where the provincial hospital expansion is being developed.
The Office of the Provincial Engineer (OPE), together with the Department of Health–SOCCSKSARGEN Center for Health Development, is currently working on the necessary technical, documentary, and regulatory requirements to fast-track the construction of the new buildings.
The planned development includes a four-storey healthcare building designed to provide additional space and capacity for the growing number of patients seeking medical services at the provincial hospital.
Meanwhile, Provincial Engineer Lloyd Esparagosa, CE, GE, said the OPE is coordinating closely with DOH–SOCCSKSARGEN to complete the requirements and ensure that construction can proceed as soon as possible.
“Our priority is to fast-track the necessary requirements while making sure that the project complies with all technical and regulatory standards. This additional infrastructure will significantly augment the capacity of the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital and, most importantly, provide our people with better and more accessible healthcare services,” Esparagosa said.
The expansion is expected to help address the increasing demand for hospital services while providing additional space for patients, healthcare workers, and essential medical services.
For residents, the additional facilities mean improved access to government healthcare, potentially shorter waiting times, better patient accommodation, and greater capacity for the provincial hospital to serve more people.
The development also complemented the province’s ongoing efforts to decongest the existing hospital and increase its capacity. Previous hospital expansion initiatives at the ProTech site have already been undertaken to provide additional outpatient, ward, operating, and other healthcare spaces.
With the new ₱240-million infrastructure investment, the Provincial Government of South Cotabato aims to further transform the provincial hospital into a more capable and responsive public healthcare facility—ensuring that its infrastructure keeps pace with the province’s growing population and healthcare needs.
The project likewise reflects the provincial government’s continuing commitment to its “Tama at Maayos na Serbisyo” brand of governance, where partnerships and investments in infrastructure are translated into accessible, quality, and people-centered services for every South Cotabateño.
