The Labor department said Friday the construction of the hospital for migrant Filipino workers in Pampanga remained on track for completion next year despite being interrupted by the COVID 19 pandemic.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the quarantine measures imposed to control the outbreak had caused delays in the project but construction stayed on schedule.
“There were stoppages in construction work but the hospital for our migrant workers will still be finished next year,” Bello said.
He said President Rodrigo Duterte was also hoping the hospital would become operational by 2021.
Originally set for completion in April next year, the hospital could still be finished by December 2021, the builders of the project said.
Bello led the signing of the agreement between the Provincial Government of Pampanga and the Department of Labor and Employment for the construction of the first-ever hospital for migrant workers in the country in Baranggay Sindalan in San Fernando, Pampanga.
“I hope we can do our best to complete this wonderful project earlier. The sooner it is finished, the sooner we can help our OFWs,” Bello said.
Once completed, the hospital would provide free medical services to the country’s modern-day heroes, Bello said.
“It will render free services when OFWs are securing medical certificates covering laboratory exams and other requirements for their overseas deployment,” Bello said.