Duke's hospital bill from Danao has been turned down by Pam

In the heart of Danao City, the Cebu Provincial Hospital stands as a beacon of healthcare for the Northern Cebu region. However, a proposed bill by Fifth District Representative Duke Frasco aims to transform this hospital into the North Cebu Medical Center, a national government-run Level 2 hospital [1][4].

The bill, House Bill No. 3313, has been filed but not yet approved. Frasco is actively seeking support from the Cebu Provincial Government to back this proposal, which would upgrade the hospital and place it under the Department of Health (DOH), allowing for national funding for its operations [1].

Arguments in favor of the proposal

The upgrade to a Level 2 general hospital would improve healthcare access for residents in Northern Cebu, addressing a long-standing need. It would also help decongest the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center (VSMMC), a tertiary hospital currently overwhelmed by patients from across Cebu and the Visayas. Transitioning the hospital to national government control would relieve the Cebu Provincial Government of the financial burden of running it, allowing resources to be redirected to other vital services [1].

Arguments against the proposal

Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro has rejected the necessity of Frasco’s bill, arguing that a congressional bill is not required for hospital upgrades. The Provincial Government has not received formal communication about the bill and prefers to upgrade hospitals through existing DOH standards and administrative processes [2][3]. Baricuatro's daughter, health consultant Nicole Catalan, echoed this sentiment, stating that hospital upgrades require compliance with DOH standards, not new legislation [2].

Baricuatro's administration contends that the Province is capable of upgrading and managing hospitals on its own by hiring staff and acquiring equipment, which allows faster response to healthcare needs than the legislative process imposes [2][3]. This approach is framed as more practical and responsive to immediate requirements rather than waiting for legislative action [2][3].

Current Status

As of August 2025, the bill remains under consideration, awaiting broader official and political support [1][2][4]. Meanwhile, Baricuatro is working to upgrade infirmaries in several towns across Cebu, including Minglanilla, Argao, Sogod, Badian, Barili, Tuburan, Pinamungajan, and Daanbantayan, into Level 1 hospitals [2]. The Capitol is currently working to increase hospital levels by hiring more medical personnel and acquiring new equipment to meet DOH standards [2].

Frasco has appealed to Baricuatro to set aside politics until 2028, focusing instead on the health and general welfare of the Cebuanos [2]. Despite the disagreement, both Frasco and Baricuatro share a common goal: the betterment of healthcare services in Cebu. The future of the Cebu Provincial Hospital and the North Cebu Medical Center remains to be seen as this debate unfolds.

[1] SunStar Cebu. (2025, August 10). Frasco pushes for bill to upgrade Danao hospital. Retrieved from https://www.sunstar.com.ph/article/1914858

[2] CDN Digital. (2025, August 12). Baricuatro rejects Frasco's bill to convert Danao hospital into Level 2 hospital. Retrieved from https://www.cdn.ph/local/baricuatro-rejects-frasco-s-bill-to-convert-danao-hospital-into-level-2-hospital/

[3] The Freeman. (2025, August 14). Baricuatro: No need for Frasco's bill to upgrade Danao hospital. Retrieved from https://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2025/08/14/2125498/baricuatro-no-need-frasco-s-bill-upgrade-danao-hospital

[4] GMA News Online. (2025, August 16). Frasco pushes for bill to convert Danao City hospital into Level 2 hospital. Retrieved from https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/regional/visayas/773129/frasco-pushes-for-bill-to-convert-danao-city-hospital-into-level-2-hospital/story/