Not only is the island province getting an P8-million building for its first Acute Psychiatric Unit, it will also be the recipient of P42 million for various health facilities from the Department of Health (DOH) in the agency’s budget this 2023.
The projects are included in the FY 2023 Health Facilities Enhancement Program of the health department, with the psychiatric building to be built inside the Eastern Bicol Medical Center (EBMC) compound.
A total of P10 million has been allotted for the completion and upgrading of the physical infrastructure of Pandan Rural Health Unit (P5 million), San Andres RHU (P3 million) and Viga RHU (P2 million).
Meanwhile, the Panganiban RHU will be the beneficiary of P2 million for infrastructure improvement and P7 million for medical equipment.
Getting the biggest share of the DOH budget for Catanduanes is Caramoran, which will see the construction of its Super Health Center which will cost P10 million for the building alone and P2 million for medical equipment.
Also targeted for completion, repair or upgrading are 16 Barangay Health Stations in nine towns.
The following barangays will each receive P500,000 worth of medical equipment: San Vicente and Suchan in Bagamanoc; Buenavista, Bato; Dariao, Caramoran; Sicmil, Gigmoto; Cagdarao, Panganiban; San isidro, San Andres; and Tambongon and Villa Aurora in Viga.
On the other hand, P600,000 each will be spent for infra improvement in the BHS of San Roque in Bato, Milaviga in Caramoran, San Andres in Pandan, and Cabuyoan and Maculiw in Panganiban.
Construction of new Barangay Health Stations will be undertaken in Cabuyoan in Panganiban and F. Tacorda Village in Virac at P1.75 million each.