By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

The P100-million Center for Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (CEMREID) broke ground at the Teresita Lopez Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TLJPH)  in Silay City, Negros Occidental yesterday morning.

The facility is funded by the provincial government, the Department of Health’s (DOH) Health Facilities Enhancement Program.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, who led the groundbreaking rites, said that when the COVID-19 pandemic started last year the provincial government-run TLJPH only had six isolation rooms. 

“When the cases went up, a triage and another consultation area had to be set up outside the Emergency Room to segregate patients according to risk assessments. Patients were examined in tents outside the main ER,” the governor said.

Lacson said that with the life of millions, including that of Negrenses endangered, they needed to make unprecedented steps.

“At present two of our hospitals were assigned as COVID-19 hospitals, disabling them to cater to non-COVID cases and emergencies,” he pointed out.

He added that the facility is meant to bridge critical gaps in the province’s health care services.

The CEMREID will have its own Emergency Room, Operating Room, Delivery Room and Intensive Care Unit aside from Isolation Rooms.

The groundbreaking rites was also attended by Third District Rep. Francisco Benitez, Silay City Mayor Mark Golez, Board Member Manuel Frederick Ko, Board Member Ryan Gamboa, former Bacolod City Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, former Bacolod Councilor Homer Bais, and Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz, among others./DGB, WDJ