New Albay governor to give priority to health services

By Cet Dematera

Incoming Albay Governor Noel Rosal said that he would prioritize concerns on health services requested to him by the residents in the remote areas during his campaign sorties.

Rosal, the outgoing mayor of Legazpi City, said that he was deeply moved by different stories narrated to him by the residents in far-flung villages that they were experiencing so many difficulties in times of emergencies that needed immediate medical attention.

“Albay has 11 emergency hospitals but they lack doctors, hospital personnel, and medicines. The provincial government will prioritize filling up these gaps. We really have to look after the medical attention needed by our constituents in times of emergencies, and even in providing them medical treatments during regular days, particularly those residing in the remote areas,” Rosal said.

He even retold the story of a patient who was needing immediate attention but to no avail.

“Because he was residing on the island barangay of San Miguel in Tabaco City, his family had to bring him to the city proper for treatment because the supposed emergency hospital on the island is not equipped with apparatus to treat the patient,” Rosal lamented.

He was also irked by reports that most of these hospitals do not have sufficient doctors and staff to deal with emergency cases.

“I got reports that doctors in some of these hospitals are reporting only at least two days a week. This is really sad,” Rosal added.

Rosal is also eyeing to develop the different coastal areas with beautiful tourist spots that could potentially draw investors and visitors.

“I was so amazed when I discovered that there are a lot of white sand beaches in Albay facing the Pacific Ocean that resemble those in Boracay island,”

He said that he would prioritize a project that would connect these islands to the mainland towns and cities.

“If we could connect these islands of Rapu-Rapu, Batan and Cagraray to the mainland of our province, there is a big potential to make them tourist destinations, with the presence of pristine white beaches,” Rosal said.

After winning as governor, Rosal went back to the remote areas, including the island villages to say “thank you” to residents for giving him a large margin of votes.

Rosal won in all the cities and towns of Albay by a large margin of more than 230,000 votes against outgoing Gov. Al Francis Bichara.

Rosal was a consistent multi-awarded mayor in the 18 years that he administered Legazpi City.