KORONADAL CITY, SOUTH COTABATO – The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of South Cotabato is currently working on the formulation of an ordinance for the Provincial Government’s Free Hospitalization Program.
According to Vice Governor Arthur Y. Pingoy, Jr., they are in the process of gathering and studying the necessary data, particularly concerning the budget required for the operations of the South Cotabato Provincial Hospital (SCPH).
The official emphasized the importance of determining whether the ₱500 million allocated annually is sufficient to cover the hospital’s operational costs.
Vice Governor Pingoy assured the public that they are doing everything to fast-track the passage of the said ordinance, which is one of the key priorities requested by Governor Reynaldo S. Tamayo, Jr. from the Provincial Board.
“The drafting of the ordinance is ongoing. We need complete data on how much the annual budget really is. It’s more or less half a billion pesos. That may fall short, but we also expect income from PhilHealth, PSWDO, Malasakit Program, and other sources,” said Vice Governor Pingoy.
The free hospitalization program is one of the flagship initiatives of Governor Tamayo’s administration, aimed at reducing the financial burden of constituents when accessing medical services.
