TACLOBAN CITY — Northern Samar Governor Harris Ongchuan has unveiled plans to build additional hospitals in the province, citing rising demand for health services and the need to prepare for future population growth.
Speaking during the Provincial Government Development Cluster Meeting last week—the first for 2026—Governor Ongchuan emphasized that the province’s current hospitals may be overwhelmed in the next decade if new facilities are not established.
“As the number of patients increases, 10 years or so from now, our hospitals will be overwhelmed and will not be able to accommodate all Nortehanons seeking medical attention. So without doubt, we need a new hospital,” Ongchuan said. He instructed the management and finance committees to study the proposal and incorporate it into future programming.
At present, the provincial government operates eight district hospitals and the Northern Samar Provincial Hospital.
There are also 24 rural health units across the province operated by local government units where these facilities are located.
The quarterly Development Cluster Meeting is part of the provincial government’s efforts to strengthen coordination among departments, improve cohesion, and address challenges in implementing development initiatives.
(JOEY A. GABIETA/ROEL T. AMAZONA)
