The Joint Committee on Sanitation and Health, Public Order and Safety, and Justice, Human Rights, and Good Government has concluded that the land where the Mother and Child Hospital in San Joaquin is situated is indeed government-owned.
This resolution emerged after an extensive investigation led by 1st District Board Member Joan Germinanda, who chairs the committee on sanitation and health.
Germinanda confirmed that since no legal action has been filed by the Getuya family, who claim ownership of the land, all hospital services, including crucial X-ray facilities, will continue uninterrupted.
The San Joaquin local government unit (LGU) awaits a court order for vacating the property; until then, it remains under government ownership.
The Western Visayas Medical Center’s (WVMC) legal representative, Atty. Jinky Cope, explained to the Getuya family’s legal counsel that the hospital had not abandoned the building, which has served as an extension facility.
Cope suggested that the misunderstanding arose due to the hospital’s preoccupation with COVID-19 preparations, which left them short-staffed and unable to maintain the old hospital in San Joaquin adequately. However, she clarified that there was no abandonment of the premises.
No certificate proving that the property had been abandoned was presented by the Getuya family from the Office of the Building Officials of the LGU.
Germinanda reassured the public that the WVMC will continue to provide services through the Mother and Child Hospital, serving residents of the premier district and neighboring areas.
The WVMC has allocated P15 million for upgrading the facility, with security guards deployed to safeguard the hospital.
Present at the committee investigation were Police Colonel Bayani Razalan, San Joaquin LGU officials, 2nd District Board Member June Mondejar, 1st District Board Member Valentine Serag, 3rd District Board Member Rolando Distura, 5th District Board Member Carol Espinosa-Diaz, Ex-Officio Board Member Ramon Sullano, and other officials.