Speaker Martin Romualdez led the groundbreaking and capsule-laying of a soon-to-be-established 20-storey integrated specialty and wellness hub at the Bicol Regional Hospital and Medical Center (BRHMC) in Legazpi City, Albay on Friday, June 7.
The project is part of the Legacy Specialty Hospitals initiative championed by Romualdez and President Marcos aimed at elevating healthcare standards across the Philippines.
House Appropriations Committee chairperson and Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co emphasized the significance of the facility, describing it as “not just a building but a landmark for the Bicol Region and our country.”
Co highlighted that the hospital will be a Level 3 facility, equipped with a heart center, lung center, cancer center, and other specialized medical services. Through this project, he said Bicolanos will no longer need to travel to Manila for advanced medical treatments.
The new hospital boasts a 433-bed capacity and feature state-of-the-art facilities, including advanced MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) and CT (computed tomography) scan equipment, diagnostic laboratories, and a comprehensive cancer center.
Co expressed pride in the modern infrastructure and the benefits it will bring to the local community.
Romualdez emphasized that the Bicol Legacy Hospital will set a new standard for healthcare across the country. He noted that this hospital is one of three major legacy projects under the Marcos administration, alongside initiatives for food security and housing.
He pointed out that the administration is targeting to build one million dwelling units for the poor every year up to 2028 to fill the housing backlog of 6.5 million.
In addition to attending the groundbreaking ceremony, the House Speaker visited patients at the BRHMC and distributed five kilos of rice to their families, underscoring his commitment to community service.