Acting ARMM gov inaugurates new hospital in Lanao Sur

ZAMBOANGA CITY – The acting governor of the Muslim autonomous region Ansaruddin Adiong inaugurated the newly renovated district hospital and a training center in the town of Tamparan in Lanao del Sur province. Villagers now have access to better health and recreational facilities following Thursday's inauguration of the hospital, said Ali Macabalang, executive director of the Bureau of Public Information in the Muslim autonomous region. He said Adiong led the inauguration of the Tamparan District Hospital in ceremonies attended by his elder brother, Lanao del Sur Governor Mamintal Adiong Jr. alongside all mayors in the province. In his brief speech, Adiong aired his administration’s commitment to advance health initiatives to help make the region’s over four million residents mentally and physically healthy, Macabalang said. Adiong assured to support the refurbished hospital by providing other necessary medical equipment. He also released funding for a new set of uniform to each of the hospital's personnel and 22 boxes of assorted medicines. He said his one month-old administration will strive to let his constituents “feel the services of the government." "The rehabilitation of the Tamparan District Hospital Training Center has been funded cost more than five million pesos and funded by the Muslim autonomous region's Social Fund Program through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)," Macabalang said. Dr. Potri Disomimba-Ali, the hospital's chief administrator, lauded Adiong for the improvement of the medical facility after seeing it in a poor condition during a free cataract operation he sponsored few months ago. "The realization of this project has been through the efforts made by Governor Adiong," Ali said. The two-storey, 10 x 30 square meter training center, Ali said, will provide quality medical and health services to the locals and will serve as "ideal venue for our integrated health programs such as future medical missions." Engineer Nasser Sinarimbo, project manager for the Social Fund Program, said the project formed part of the commitment of the regional government to provide constituents access to decent health service. Tito Oria Sr., a JICA expert, urged hospital administrators to take care of the facility, even as he expressed optimism for its long sustained operations. He also pledged to continue supporting projects on the pipeline intended for the development of stakeholders and communities in the region. Tamparan District Hospital was created thru Republic Act passed in Congress in 1963 through the efforts of then Mayor Datu Palawan Disomimba under President Diosdado Macapagal. In 1987, the hospital was upgraded to serve all its ten neighboring municipalities in the province. The province now has five district hospitals and the Amai Pakpak Provincial hospital in Marawi City. Adiong, vice governor of the Muslim autonomous region, took over as acting regional governor after ARMM Governor Zaldy Ampatuan, his father Andal Sr. and brothers were implicated in the brutal killing of 57 people, including 31 journalists, in Maguindanao province on November 23. Aside from Lanao del Sur, four other provinces - Basilan, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi and Maguindanao, are part of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM). - Al Jacinto/RSJ, GMANews.TV