KORONADAL CITY, South Cotabato, Philippines| August 18, 2025- Two infirmary hospitals will be established this year in the town of Tantangan and the City of Koronadal, ensuring accessible and quality health services for the people of South Cotabato.
According to Governor Reynaldo Tamayo, Jr., these hospitals will help ease the overcrowding at the Provincial Hospital, which currently serves as the primary facility for beneficiaries of the free hospitalization program. The construction of the infirmary hospitals is funded by an initial ₱100-million grant from the Office of the President, secured earlier by the governor.
“Bago sana ako aalis bilang Gobernador ninyo, talagang ma-arrange na yung referal system. At sa buong Pilipinas, dito lang yan mangyayari sa lalawigan ng South Cotabato na na-arrange lahat ang referral system,” Gov .Tamayo said during an interview. (Before I step down as your Governor, I want to ensure that the referral system is fully arranged.
And throughout the Philippines, it is only here in the province of South Cotabato where the entire referral system will be properly organized.) On a regular day, the Outpatient Unit of the provincial hospital handled consultations for at least 7,000 new patients and more than 22,000 old and revisiting individuals, with a combined average of 245 per day, a hospital report revealed.
According to available records, South Cotabato currently has at least two infirmary-level hospitals. The Polomolok Municipal Hospital is officially classified as an infirmary, while the Upper Valley Community Hospital—now operating as the SOCCSKSARGEN General Hospital in Surallah—was initially established with infirmary-level status.
Infirmary hospital is a health facility that provides basic inpatient and outpatient medical care but with limited capacity and services compared to larger district or provincial hospitals. This hospital offers primary care services such as treatment of common illnesses, minor surgeries, maternal and child care, and emergency first aid.
