VALENCIA, Negros Oriental, March 24 (PIA) -- Residents of hinterland Brgy. Dobdob in this town and other villages surrounding Tamlang Valley will soon have a hospital in their area to cater to their medical and health needs.

This after Gov. Roel Degamo along with top officials of the Philippine Army led by 302nd Infantry Brigade Commander BGen. Leonardo Peña officiated the groundbreaking of the Tamlang Valley Community Primary Hospital (CPH) in Brgy. Dobdob on March 22.

This is a major undertaking of the Negros Oriental Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NOTF ELCAC). 

Since its launch in 2019, NOTF ELCAC has expressed its commitment to bring essential and basic services to residents of far-flung barangays to address societal issues that become root causes of insurgency.

The CPH will have facilities for minor surgeries or operations, birthing, vaccination, consultation, and admission with its 10-bedroom capacity.

Aside from Dobdob, there are also other villages in Tamlang Valley that are under the jurisdiction of other municipalities such as Sta. Catalina, Siaton, and Pamplona.

In his message, Degamo reiterated to the barangay residents the government’s goal of making life comfortable for people in the upland. 

“Ako ni gipasalig ninyo na dili lang karon ta magkita. Magsige na ko balik dinhi kay butangan tamo ug insakto gyud na serbisyo kay aron makakita mo na tinuod ni na gobyerno na nagpalangga ninyo tanan (I assure you that this will not be the only time we will see each other. I will come back here to bring more services so you would feel the sincerity of the government in taking care of its people),” Degamo said.  

“Nagdamgo ko, naglaum ko, ug nag-ampo ko na ang katawhan sa Tamlang Valley will now become like the people, kanang mga katawhan na nagpuyo sa siyudad kay ato naman gidala ang mga proyekto  gikan sa siyudad paingon nganhi sa atong kayutaan sa Tamlang Valley (I hope and pray that the people in Tamlang Valley will be like the people living in developed cities, because we have brought here the services from these areas),” Degamo added.

Meanwhile, Peña encouraged the residents to trust the government as it continues to bring basic services down to the grassroots level. 

“Andito na humaharap na sa inyo ang miyembro ng local government units para hatagan kamo ng ospital, hatagan kamo ng dalan, hatagan kamo ng elektrisidad. Kaya ang hiling namin sa inyo mga lumolupyo, mag salig kamo sa gobyerno kasi ang gobyerno rin ang tutulong para magkarooon ng magandang kinabukasan ang inyong kabataan (Members of the local government unit are now here to establish hospital, roads, and electricity. Our only request to you, residents of this area, is to support the government. It is the government help you and ensure a better future for your children),” Peña said.

Dr. Jennelie Faith Ozoa, the CPH supervisor from the Integrated Provincial Health Office (IPHO), said the provincial government has already allocated a budget for the hospital's staffing pattern. 

“We have at least two rotating doctors, usually tig-15 days (ang rotation). Naa doctor anytime. Twenty-four hours ilang duty straight for 15 days. Puhon pwede na sila tulo kabuok na tig-ten days. Naa pod tay nurses, midwives, nursing attendant, naa pod ta cook, utility, driver (We have at least two rotating doctors rendering duty for 15 days. There will be a doctor available anytime for 24 hours and 15 days straight. Hopefully, we can increase the number to three but on a 10-day rotation basis. We will also have nurses, midwives, nursing attendants, cook, utility, and driver),” Oza said.

Dobdob Brgy. Captain Jayson Saycon thanked the Provincial ELCAC Task Force for this undertaking.

“Pinaka-sentro man ni siya sa Tamlang ug sa Dobdob Proper mao ning dire gitukod aron ang tawo tunga-tunga sila, na naa sa sentro ang ilang ospital. Dako kay ning impact tungod kay ining lugaraha layo kaayo ug ospital. Karon, ang katawhan dako ang kalipay ug pagmaya sa mahitabong ospital na tukuron sa ato area (The location of the hospital is in the central part of Tamlang and in Dobdob proper. This will have a big impact because our area is very far from the hospital. The people are happy because of this),”  Saycon said. (RAL/PIA7 Negros Oriental)