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DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The Davao Doctors Hospital (DDH) inked an agreement with the Lapanday Foods Corp. (LFC) for its expansion in the northern part of the city.
Raymund CS. Del Val, president and chief executive officer of DDH told reporters on Thursday, September 21, that LFC vice chair, Tomas Lorenzo has formally donated early in September, a one-hectare land in Barangay Mandug for the expansion of its medical service.
Del Val said they are also committed to buy additional five hectares within two to five years in the new site. He added that the expansion is their way of bringing “primary health care” to the northern communities.
“We don’t believe that building big hospitals is the answer for the needs of the Dabawenyos. The answer is bringing primary health care closer to (their) home,” Del Val said.
However, Del Val mentioned that the configuration of their new medical hub would also depend on the development of the barangay especially in terms of peace and order.
In April this year, the communist rebels attacked a facility owned by the Lorenzo’s. The New People’s Army burned more than P1 billion worth of the LFC’s box and plastic manufacturing plant saying it is part of their “punitive action” against LFC.
Del Val said despite threats, their commitment to build their new medical facility there remains.
Prior to the establishment, Del Val said they will also be buying and utilizing mobile clinics in Mandug and other neighboring barangays so that people would not have to travel far to avail of medical services.
Dr. Celia C. Castillo, corporate research and development director of DDH stressed that the new projects are aimed “to prevent people from ‘becoming worse’ of their illnesses since primary health care is provided closer to them.”
“So you save people’s money, you take care of patients better and you take care of them in the area in the site close to where they are,” Castillo said.
Apart from Barangay Mandug, DDH is also planning to put up another expansion in its six-hectare property located in Barangay Mintal.(davaotoday.com)
