SOUTH COTABATO- The ₱50-million Department of Health (DOH)-funded building for the Norala District Hospital (NDH) has been awarded, marking another step toward the hospital’s expansion and planned upgrading to a Level 2 facility.
Following the completion of the bidding process, a Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) officer visited the hospital to inspect the project site and personally deliver the Notice to Proceed, signaling the start of the project’s implementation.
The two-storey structure will house additional wards and offices and will be built at the center of the hospital compound, directly connected to the ₱75-million provincial government building and the existing operating room–delivery room (OR-DR) building.
“This DOH-funded building is a welcome addition to our expansion. Together with the provincial government’s new building, it means more beds and better services for our patients, close to home,” said Dr. Mila Quinton, Chief of Hospital.
The project forms part of the province’s continuing investment in hospital infrastructure, with the national government’s DOH allocation complementing the provincial government’s separate ₱75-million hospital building currently under construction.
The provincial government building will house an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), additional ward rooms, and upgraded clinical and support service areas.
Governor Reynaldo Tamayo Jr. has emphasized the expansion of district hospitals as part of the province’s efforts to strengthen public healthcare services and sustain its free hospitalization program.
The need for additional hospital capacity comes as NDH continues to serve a growing number of patients, with the hospital recently recording a 163-percent bed occupancy rate, significantly exceeding its authorized capacity.
With the planned ICU and expanded inpatient services, the hospital is working toward meeting the requirements for Level 2 classification, which would allow it to provide a broader range of services to residents of Norala and nearby communities.
Once the two buildings are completed and operational, officials expect expanded bed capacity, improved hospital services, reduced congestion, and fewer referrals to other facilities.
The project underscores the continuing partnership between the national and provincial governments in expanding healthcare infrastructure and bringing essential medical services closer to South Cotabateños.
