JICA backs expansion of Eastern Visayas’ regional hospital

FILE: The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) (Photo: Japan International Cooperation Agency – JICA/Facebook)

MANILA — The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) is supporting the construction of a new health facility in Tacloban City as part of Japan’s assistance to typhoon Yolanda rehabilitation and recovery.

The 5,272-square-meter, three-storey out-patient department building of the Eastern Visayas Regional Medical Center (EVRMC) is a component of JICA’s 4.6-billion yen grant aid assistance for the typhoon victims.

“We brought Japanese know-how in building the facility using disaster resilient designs and consequently enhance access and delivery of health services in the region,” said JICA Chief Representative Susumu Ito in a statement.

The out-patient department (OPD) building, which was inaugurated this week, has rooms for consultation, treatment and rehabilitation. About 350 patients are expected to be treated in the EVRMC OPD daily.

The EVRMC, which served as operations center during typhoon Yolanda, is the only teaching and training hospital in Eastern Visayas.

“With this new facility, we are confident that more people will have better access to quality health care and benefit from quality design standards that Japan shared in building the project,” said EVRMC Chief Dr.

John Edward Coloma.

Apart from the EVRMC OPD, the JICA Grant Aid Assistance for Typhoon Yolanda Rehabilitation and Recovery also includes rebuilding of schools, rural health units, municipal halls, provision of equipment to the National Maritime Polytechnic, meteorological radar stations, and electric cooperatives. (PNA)