House okays increase of bed capacity of Aklan hospital

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

The House of Representatives has approved on second reading a measure increasing the bed capacity of the Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital (DRSTMH) in Kalibo, Aklan from 162 to 400. 

The lower house voted House Bill No. 5954 authored by Aklan Representative Teodorico Haresco, Jr. via viva voce or voice voting on August 11 as contained in Committee Report No. 805. 

The measure was submitted by the Committee on Health chairman Isidro Ungab (3^rd District, Davao City), and Committee on Appropriations chairman Eufranio Eriquel (3^rd District, La Union) on July 29 in substitution of House Bill No. 114 introduced by Haresco.  

The bill requires the provincial government of Aklan to implement the increase in bed capacity of DRSTMH for a period of not more than three years from its approval. 

Under the measure, the provincial government also provides the necessary funds to support the increase in bed capacity and the corresponding upgrading of the Aklan provincial hospital facilities and services. 

Likewise, the bill stresses the need to upgrade the existing service capability, professional health care services and health human resource of DRSTMH to conform with the increase in authorized bed capacity. 

On May 12, 1930, the provincial hospital along Mabini Street in Kalibo, Aklan was inaugurated with an initial 30 beds. The Aklan Provincial Hospital, originally named as Capiz Provincial Hospital before the separation of Aklan from Capiz, was renamed Dr. Rafael S. Tumbokon Memorial Hospital in 1981 in honor of the late Undersecretary of Health.

The hospital bed capacity was then increased to 150 beds in 1991 by virtue of Republic Act No. 7589 from 100 beds in 1975. 

On February 2010, the Department of Health also certified that the bed capacity increased to 162.