BALITUCAN HOSPITAL

A brief history of Balitucan Emergency Hospital

An act was passed during the 4th Congress of the Philippines authorizing and appropriating funds for the operation of the Balitucan Emergency Hospital. Funds for the operation of said hospital began to be incorporated in the National Budget from fiscal year 1962-1963. The late Mayor Benedicto T. Dayrit lbored hard to have this hospital opened. Having succeeded, by authority of the Department of Health, this hospital was officially opened on September 1, 1963. It was temporarily housed at the Annex Executive Hall of Magalang, Pampanga. Pending the appointment of the Chief of this hospital, Dr. Vicente Trinidad was temporarily designated as Officer-in-Charge. Dr. Bienvenido Angeles was appointed as Resident Physician and was the first personnel to report for duty, having reported on the September 12, 1963. The following day one Institutional Worker reported for duty and thes two first employees or personnel were the ones who received the supplies and equipments preparatory to the opening of this hospital to the public. A few days later Mr. Napoleon Villanueva, designated as Acting Administrative Officer (Cashier & Supply Officer) reported for duty. On October 21, 1963, Dr. Filomena B. Salvador reported for duty as Acting Chief of this hospital pending the approval of her appointment. With her day was one Nurse and a nurse aide. On October 22, 1963, with but five personnel as stated above, the hospital was opened to the public. Emilia Manlapaz was its first in-patient. Due to lack of available space in the main building where the hospital was temporarily housed, an adjacent garage was renovated and utilized as the hospital kitchen and dining room. As time went on, vacant positions in the authorized plantilla of personnel were filled by qualified applicants. Due to lack of space to house the increasing personnel, a house nearby was leased by the hospital to house primarily the Chief plus the female personnel. Most of the male personnel stayed in the hospital.

Free medicine was granted to patients during the first few months of its operation. On March 6, 1964, the Acting Administrative Officer (Cashier & Supply Officer) was relieved by the appointment of Mr. Arcadio P. Rodriguez to said position. After a careful study of the operations of the hospital, it was agreed that the original procedure of granting free medicine and drugs be stopped because it will greatly paralyze the financial status of the hospital; so effective the middle of June, 1964, medicine, drugs, and laboratory fees were charge to patients except to a few who were found to be really indigents.

In the first Principal Special Budget to this hospital for fiscal year 1963-1964 was incorporated the amount of P69,500 for the construction of the hospital building. The hospital chief was connfronted with two grave problems then - first, the appropriated funds for the building was to small; and second, the site of the hospital. The late Mayor Benedicto T. Dayrit had already started negotiating for a site but because of his untimely death, the negotiation was not consummated. Following the policy of his predicessor, incomvent Mayor Rogelio Tiglao persued the negotiation. Fully aware that this is a worthy project to benefit the people of the community and surrounding towns, the heirs of the late Dr. Andres J. Luciano favorably considered the negotiation and donated one hectare of their land as a site of this hospital. In as much the amount of P69,500 is too small for the initial construction of the hospital building, the chief sought the help of the municipal council of Magalang, Pampanga, to secure an additional amount - an aide - from the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. The PCSO granted the amount of 25,000 pesos for the said purpose. This increase the funds for the construction of the building to P82,500. From then, proper procedures by which to start the construction of the building had already been instituted until lately the construction was started by a contructor, the winner in a public bidding.

As of now, the important equipment for its operation had already been procured. An ambulance was purchase from a sweepstakes aide in the amount of P11,600. Having procured the ambulance from Clark Air Base, a saving was realized and was utilized for the purchase of additional medical and technical equipment. Another amount of P14,000 was also secured from the PCSO for the purchase of one diesel generator, a refrigerator and one centrifugal pump. After a fw days the hospital was able to transfer to its new permanent building.

Through the able guidance of the hospital chief, Dr. Filomena B. Salvador, plus the unmeasured cooperation of the hospital staff, with the help of Municipal Officials, the hospital extends the maximum service it can afford to the people. In 1978, Balitucan Emergency Hospital became Balitucan District Hospital with 25 bed capacity.