By: Vito Barcelo Jr.
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said that hundreds of patients have safely returned and hospital operations have resumed at normal capacity at the Sarangani Provincial Hospital and Dr. Jorge P. Royeca Hospital following the completion of rehabilitation works on facilities damaged by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that struck Southern Mindanao.
The reopening of the two hospitals has restored access to critical healthcare services for residents of Sarangani Province, General Santos City, and nearby communities affected by the powerful tremor.
Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said the DPWH immediately undertake the repair and rehabilitation of damaged hospital facilities to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of medical services.
According to Dizon, the President emphasized the need to expedite restoration efforts so patients could continue receiving treatment in safe and fully functional healthcare facilities, while enabling hospitals to accommodate seriously injured individuals from earthquake-hit areas.
The rehabilitation included structural repairs and the restoration of essential hospital infrastructure to ensure compliance with safety standards and readiness for emergency response.
The completed works allowed patients who had been temporarily relocated or displaced during the rehabilitation period to return to the hospitals.
Officials said the swift rehabilitation highlights the government’s commitment to strengthening public health facilities and accelerating recovery efforts in communities affected by natural disasters.
The magnitude 7.8 earthquake caused significant damage to several public infrastructures across parts of Southern Mindanao, prompting the national government to prioritize the restoration of vital facilities, particularly hospitals and other emergency service centers.
