Tue | 1.19.2021 | 4:30 PM

Barangay Captains of the town of San Andres show their support for the new hospital project.

The aerial view of Barangay Camflora, where the first hospital in San Andres will soon rise.

It takes four to five hours of land travel before locals of San Andres, Quezon can reach the nearest hospital in Lucena City.

SAN ANDRES, Quezon -- A state-of-the-art medical facility is set to rise in this far-flung town after Bloomberry Cultural Foundation, Inc. (BFCI), through the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) recently led the groundbreaking of the first hospital in Barangay Camflora.

BFCI, the social responsibility arm of the Bloomberry Resorts Corporation, donated P50 million for the construction of a 25-bed hospital with two operating rooms and two emergency rooms.

Although primarily catering to San Andres residents, the facility will also serve the medical needs of locals in nearby municipalities like San Narciso, San Francisco and Mulanay once the hospital commences its operations.

BCFI Executive Director Filipina Laurena shares that their financial grant for San Andres town is in line with the developmental pillars of PAGCOR for the foundations organized by its integrated resort-casino operators. These developmental pillars include health, environment, education and cultural heritage.

“Mayor Lim approached us directly and nakita namin na kailangan talaga dito ng isang hospital. This jibes well with the development pillars of PAGCOR for its casino operators. In the case of San Andres, it’s health and environment. Upon seeing the need, it was easily approved, hence, the P50 million hospital project was granted,” Laurena explained.

As part of their social responsibility commitments, PAGCOR obliges its Entertainment City casino licensees to create a foundation for the restoration of cultural heritage. A percentage of their gross gaming revenues is set aside for these foundations “for the protection, conservation and restoration of cultural heritage sites in the Philippines; improvement of public schools in the country; and provision of quality healthcare services.”

San Andres town Mayor Giovanne Lim said the new hospital will address the health needs of around 40,000 individuals in their town alone and thousands more from nearby municipalities.

"Currently, the nearest hospital from our town that is equipped to handle emergency cases is in Lucena City. Going to Lucena will take about five hours. Ang town naman ng San Narciso is going to take three and a half hours. Ang pinupuntahan na dito ay sa Lucena na talaga, kasi wala nang may surgical capability. Kaya ang mga taong may mga malalaking sugat, sa kasamaang palad, ay hindi na umaabot ng buhay sa ospital due to massive blood loss," he explained.

The new hospital in San Andres, Quezon is expecting completion by January 2022.

The groundbreaking of the health facility was graced by PAGCOR President and COO Alfredo Lim, Director Reynaldo Concordia, Bloomberry Cultural Foundation Incorporated Executive Director Filipina Laurena, and local chief executives from nearby towns.

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