Groundbreaking for Bacolod Eye Center set on Thursday
The Bacolod City Government, in coordination with the Western Visayas Regional Hospital, is set to break ground on Thursday, February 11, to officially start the construction of the Bacolod Eye Center.
The city government has initially set a budget of P3 million for the said undertaking.
The City Government, represented by Mayor Evelio Leonardia, signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the WVRH for the construction and operation of the said center. WVRH will serve as base hospital for all ophthalmologic cases and will supply the medical personnel while the city government will take charge with the building construction and will set up the initial fund to be used as operational budget.
Leonardia said that the most recent undertaking of the city government is in response to the needs of many Bacoleños who cannot afford to seek treatment for their eye problems. The mayor said that a study conducted by the City Health Office had shown that many Bacoleños have problems with their eyesight but chose to ignore it due to poverty.
The mayor expressed hopes that through this project, the city government will be able help as many people as possible.
The eye center, which is going to be located inside the WVRH compound corner of Lacson-Burgos Streets, shall render free services such as consultation, surgery and supply of medicines to all patients identified by the Department of Social Services and Development.
The Bacolod Eye Center is one of the many priority projects that the city government, through Leonardia, has set this year for the people of Bacolod.
Last month, the city government entered into an agreement with the Riverside Medical Center for the construction of a lying-in clinic at the City Health Office Compound. This project aims to decongest the regional hospital and to help many Bacoleños who cannot afford hospitalization. The city government also had another MOA with the regional hospital for the infusion of an initial P1.5 million at the hospital to be used for medical services given to indigent Bacoleños who will seek treatment at WVRH.
Plans are now also underway for the setting up of a north-bound terminal in Mandalagan that will help ease the traffic along major thoroughfares in the city.
