GENERAL SANTOS CITY (MindaNews/13 May) — Incoming Sultan Kudarat Gov. Datu Pax Mangudadatu will prioritize the expansion of their provincial hospital and the enhancement of various key services in the next three years.
Mangudadatu said he will push for the improvement of the provincial hospital’s facilities, equipment and manpower capability to facilitate its upgrading from the current Level 2 classification.
“This is one of the top concerns raised by our constituents during the campaign so that will immediately start when I assume in July,” he said.
The governor-elect said the initiative will begin with the hiring of additional nurses and doctors, specifically specialists in various fields like neurology, cardiology and pulmonology.
He said they will open a bigger pharmacy and increase its stocks so it could cater to all the needs of the hospital’s patients, who are mostly indigent residents.
“All hospital services and the medicines at the pharmacy will be given free to all our patients,” he said in a video message posted in Facebook.
Aside from the expansion of the provincial hospital, Mangudadatu said he will continue with the local government’s flagship socio-economic economic programs, especially the livelihood assistance for the poor.
He will also lobby for the release of additional funds for the opening of more farm-to-market roads and the upgrading of the province’s road networks.
Mangudadatu, who ran under local political party Partido Tinig ng Masa, was formally proclaimed by the provincial board of canvassers (PBOC) on Thursday night after topping the province’s gubernatorial race in Monday’s local and national elections.
The PBOC, headed by Commission on Elections-Sultan Kudarat provincial supervisor Michael Mamukid, convened at around 9 pm for the proclamation, which was delayed due to technical problems with the consolidation and canvassing system machines assigned in two municipalities.
Mangudadatu garnered a total of 173,665 votes, with a margin of around 70,000 votes over closest rival, outgoing Isulan Mayor Diosdado Pallasigue of the Liberal Party.
His running mate and son-in-law, outgoing Sultan Kudarat first district Rep. Raden Sakaluran, was proclaimed vice governor.
Elected provincial board members were: Eduardo Duque, Jose Remus Segura, Francis Eric Recinto, Cyrus Torreña and Alfonso Demasuay in the first district; and Cesar Fornan, Joseph Ortiz, Linda Latog, Rene De Manuel Sr. and Neser Nesthur Ray Gumana in the second district.
Also proclaimed were Mangudadatu’s son, outgoing governor Suharto, as representative of the first district, and Horacio Suansing for the second district.
The elder Mangudadatu was provincial governor from 1998 to 2007, and representative of the first congressional district from 2007 to 2010.
The provincial hospital, which is located beside the provincial capitol in Isulan town, was built during his previous stint as governor. (MindaNews)