Mayor asks DOH to probe substandard BGHMC construction

Mayor Benjamin Magalong requested Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa to order an investigation into the three building constructions inside the Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center compound which he said were of very poor standard.

In a letter dated June 17, 2024, the mayor expressed “profound frustration and concern” over the dismal outcome of the Trauma Center, Outpatient Department and Flavier building works.

“Over the past few months, we have received numerous complaints from both hospital staff and patients about the quality of the construction.  These substandard conditions have not only inconvenienced many but have also compromised the safety and well-being of those who rely on BGHMC for critical emergency services,” the mayor told Herbosa.

He said the expected improvements were not realized despite the allocation of substantial funds and resources for said projects.

The mayor added that there concerns raised on the processes involved which he said may have led to inferior outputs that are not acceptable by the city’s standards.

“Given the gravity of these concerns, I respectfully request that a thorough investigation be conducted into the procedures and execution of these projects,” the mayor asked.

“I am confident that with your leadership, we can resolve these issues and ensure that BGHMC remains a beacon of health and hope for the people of Baguio City,” he told the DOH secretary.

The mayor has been known as a staunch critic of defective and deficient infrastructure projects going by his administration’s  thrust to ensure excellent quality of projects to benefit the Baguio populace.

“As we have been advocating from the start, we want the public, the stakeholders and end-users to get utmost benefit from all these projects. They do not deserve projects that have poor workmanship; that end up not beneficial or usable at all. Let us continue to raise the standard of our infrastructure projects,” the mayor said. – Aileen P. Refuerzo