By Ali G. Macabalang

MALUSO, Basilan – Basileños have taken turns in welcoming the proposed establishment of a general hospital in this town, saying the initiative will squarely solve residents’ burden on pertinent travels and amplify medical services in the locality.

Dozens of resident stakeholders expressed their appreciation at a recent public hearing on Parliament Bill No. 105 of the BARMM’s Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA) which proposes the construction of the hospital, according to a press release from the BTA Media Division.

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The bill seeks to establish Maluso General Hospital with an initial 25-bed capacity and basic medical equipment, it was learned.

Maluso is one of the 11 municipalities of Basilan and a home to about 5,907 households living across 20 barangays, the media release said.

Although Basilan is classified as a 3rd-class province in terms of gross provincial income with a remarkably low poverty incidence at 26.19%, the lowest in the country, residents “have limited access to essential medical and healthcare services, relying solely on one rural health unit and 15 rural health centers,” the brief media narrative said.

According to Maluso Municipal Health Officer, Dr. Shalhua Sahipa-Yasin, who attended the public hearing, opening a general hospital in their municipality will ease residents’ rigors in traveling extra miles to access medical attention.

In his message at the hearing, Member of Parliament (MP) Hashemi Dilangalen, chair of the BTA Health Committee, assured thorough deliberation on all feedback raised by the resident attendees.

The media release did not mention other MPs present in the hearing, but it released photos showing other MPs who were present.(AGM)