(Eastern Samar Provincial Information Office)
TACLOBAN CITY — Residents of Guiuan and neighboring municipalities in Eastern Samar can now access hospital services closer to home following the reopening of the Felipe Abrigo Memorial Hospital (FAMH), 13 years after Super Typhoon ‘Yolanda’ devastated the town and severely damaged its healthcare infrastructure.
The rehabilitated hospital in Barangay 9A officially opened on Oct. 7, marking a major milestone in the province’s efforts to restore healthcare services in one of the areas hardest hit by the typhoon when it made landfall in Eastern Samar on Nov. 8, 2013.
Now operating as a Level 1 district hospital with an initial capacity of 25 beds, the facility is expected to reduce the need for patients to travel long distances to seek medical treatment. Its capacity is planned to increase to 50 beds.
The reconstruction was made possible through financial assistance from the South Korean government, through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), as well as support from the national and provincial governments.
During the inauguration, Eastern Samar Gov. Ralph Vincent “RV” Evardone described the reopening as a collective achievement of the people of the province and the institutions that helped rebuild the hospital.
“I am just overjoyed,” Evardone said, expressing relief that the facility would again serve not only Guiuan but also residents of neighboring municipalities.
He thanked KOICA, former senator Sonny Angara and other partners for their contributions to the project.
KOICA provided more than P400 million for the hospital’s reconstruction, while Angara extended P200 million in assistance during his tenure in the Senate. The provincial government also allocated P100 million for the project.
KOICA Country Director Jung Youngsun said the reopening would improve access to quality healthcare for residents of Guiuan and nearby communities.
“Today, the people of Guiuan and nearby municipalities can look forward to quality healthcare and accessible health services,” Jung said.
She also expressed hope that the hospital would stand as a lasting symbol of friendship and cooperation between South Korea and the Philippines.
Guiuan Mayor Annaliza Gonzales Kwan thanked KOICA and national and provincial officials for supporting the rehabilitation of the town’s main public hospital.
She described the reopening as an example of the principle of building back better and stronger following disasters.
Former Eastern Samar governor Ben Evardone, who was in office when the reconstruction began, said hospital services would be provided free of charge to patients.
He also cited plans to install additional medical equipment, including dialysis machines, to expand the hospital’s services.
“It’s totally free,” he said.
Beyond serving as a primary provider of hospital care, FAMH is expected to function as a referral facility for smaller healthcare centers in the area, strengthening the local health system and improving access to medical services for communities located far from larger hospitals.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. visited the facility on Sept. 25 to inspect its condition and pledged additional funding to improve its capabilities and enable it to accommodate more patients from Eastern Samar.
The hospital’s reopening represents a significant step in the province’s continuing recovery from Yolanda, which destroyed homes, disrupted essential services and exposed the vulnerability of healthcare facilities in coastal communities.
With the rehabilitated hospital now operational, residents of Guiuan and surrounding municipalities are expected to have better access to essential medical services without having to travel as far for hospital-based treatment.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
