BONTOC, Mountain Province – The Municipality of Bontoc is a grateful recipient of the first newly –constructed and completed COVID-19 Health Facilities in Mountain Province located at Sitio Am-anchu, Barangay Bontoc Ili.
The P7,963,422.00 worth of COVID-19 Health Facilities was turned over by the Department of Public Works and Highways- Mountain Province First District Engineering Office (DPWH-MPFDEO) represented by District Engineer Januario Grande to the Municipality of Bontoc represented by Mayor Franklin Odsey on February 15, 2022.
According to Project Engineer Samuel Maskay of the DPWH-MPFDEO, the project was sourced out from the national government under the Fiscal Year 2021 National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (NDRRM) Fund. The implementation of the project is a joint undertaking of the DPWH-MPFDEO, Office of Congressman Maximo Dalog, Jr., and the Bontoc LGU. It is constructed purposely for the management, monitoring, and treatment of COVID-19 patients in the capital town. The proposal and planning of the project started in 2020 during the leadership of former DPWH-MPFDEO District Engineer Alexander Castaṅeda.
Engr. Maskay said that the project covers the construction of the facilities, construction of two comfort rooms, purchase of amenities provided in every room, the opening of road access and land development, and electrical wirings. The facilities have 20 beds capacity and a waiting area.
Each room has a comfortable bed, a table, a chair, and an IV stand. Before the facilities will be used with the intended purpose, Rev. Elvie Tulingan of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Philippines (EDNP) officiated the blessing and mass during the Blessing and Inauguration Ceremony on February 15, 2022.
In their messages, DPWH- MPFDEO District Engineer Januario Garde, Maintenance Section Chief Engr. Domingo Pumecha and Project Engineer Maskay thanked all the partner agencies and the contractor, Lewin Vanne General Engineering and Construction for the realization of the project despite the challenges and problems encountered.
Likewise, DE Garde encouraged the Bontoc LGU and its constituents, as the end-users to take good care of the facility.
“This building is yours. You must take good care of it. Maintain and protect it,” he said.
In response, Mayor Odsey expressed his gratitude to the DPWH-MPFDEO and the Office of Congressman Dalog for a fruitful partnership. He also thanked the contractor for the completion of the project.
He said that the construction and completion of the COVID-19 Health Facility will give hospitals in Mountain Province more capacity to handle severe and critical patients and will help in solving the shortage of hospital bed capacity because of the pandemic.
The mayor assured that the facility will be used for the intended purpose, but expressed high hopes that COVID-19 cases will gradually decrease.
“The completion of this facility is a dream come true because of our concerted efforts. We assure you that Bontoc LGU will improve the facility and provide other needed materials or logistics to give the best service to COVID-19 patients who will be staying here, “ Odsey remarked.
Atty. Cyphrine Maxcel Dalog, Chief of Staff-Office of Congressman Dalog lauded the DPWH-MPFDEO, the Bontoc LGU, the contractor, and other stakeholders for their efforts and sacrifices that led to the completion of the project.
Also, he assured continuous partnership in the delivery of government services down to the grassroots-the community.
Municipal Health Officer, Dr. Diga Kay Gomez in her message thanked the support of all agencies in response to the health services of the municipality.
Also present during the event are Engr. Esther Taynec and Administrative Officer Janet Valencerina, both from DPWH-MPFDEO, MDRRM Officer Johanna Padaen, Barangay Bontoc Ili Kagawad Gerald Kalang-ad, staff from the Municipal Health Office, and personnel from the DPWH-MPFDEO. //
