THE second satellite hospital of Davao Doctors Hospital (DDH) will soon rise in a land donated by the Torre Lorenzo Development Corporation (TLDC) in Mandug Village, Davao City where one of its company, the Lapanday Foods Corporation (LPC), previously operated.
Last September 7, TLDC and DDH sealed a contract formalizing the donation of a one-hectare land area inside TLDC's township, Ciudades, in Mandug to DDH.
In an interview with DDH president Raymund del Val, he said the donation will help promote Ciudades, a 20-hectare master planned community in Mandug that is being developed by TLDC into a business and residential park composed of residential and commercial areas as well as leisure and educational institutions.
The Ciudades business park will house businesses like manufacturing and processing facilities, business processing outsourcings (BPOs), and other establishments including DDH.
TLDC president Tomas Lorenzo said in a statement that the presence of an internationally accredited healthcare facility will complete Ciudades as a community, making healthcare available to those who reside and work in the Mandug community.
But Del Val admitted that the recent attack of the New People's Army on the Lapanday box plant there has delayed their plan to proceed with the construction.
He said the DDH will first look into the market demand in the area to finalize the details of the services and facilities that have to be included in the satellite hospital.
Security assessment also has to be prioritized considering the threats received by the previous company operating in the area.
"We have to strictly assure first that it is safe to start the construction as we cannot afford to let our materials and people be at risk," del Val said.
Also, DDH has to pave the rough and bumpy road going to the location first before the hospital construction to prevent damage to the materials that will be brought in.
However, Del Val said DDH will be sending a mobile clinic in the area last week of September or next month to establish the presence of the hospital.
"Our mobile clinic is digital compared to other hospitals in the country that are using analog system. This will help us provide fast and credible results for our patients, although our price is above affordable," he said.
At present, Del Val said DDH still has to finish its various assessments before going to the detail-planning and bidding of contractors.
DDH's first satellite hospital is in Talomo, Davao City and was recently upgraded as a PhilHealth accredited hospital. (BSC)