Lawmaker asks Budget dep’t to immediately release funds for PGH repairs

A LAWMAKER is calling on the Budget department to immediately release funds to repair and re-equip the University of the Philippines-Public General Hospital (UP-PGH), the biggest coronavirus disease referral hospital in the capital, which was partly damaged by fire last Sunday.

The cost of damage was estimated at P300,000, according to the Bureau of Fire Protection.

In House Resolution 1768 filed by Quezon City Rep. Jose Christopher Y. Belmonte on Tuesday, the solon urged the Budget department and other pertinent agencies “to immediately release funds for the rehabilitation” of the state-run UP-PGH.

Mr. Belmonte also said the inter-agency task force handling the coronavirus response should establish “stop-gap” measures to help UP-PGH continue providing crucial medical services.

There were no casualties in the fire that broke out in the early hours of May 16 due to faulty electrical wiring.

Medical workers on duty promptly evacuated patients, including several newborns. — Gillian M. Cortez