Should Fabella stay or go? Referendum to decide historic Manila hospital's fate

The fate of the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital will be determined through a referendum among its medical staff and personnel.

Health Secretary Janette Garin said Wednesday that the Department of Health (DOH) has given the hospital staff time to conduct a referendum to vote whether the hospital will be relocated or retrofitted.

"We are now giving this problem back to the Fabella employees and officials," Garin told reporters.

"We have requested for a referendum from them. Magbotohan sila. Kung ayaw nilang ipagpatuloy ang bagong Fabella, we will submit."

Safety at stake

If Fabella agrees, construc. of new hospital will be fast-tracked; patients and staff will trans to Jose Reyes, PGH pic.twitter.com/NF9AsWZSOm

— Rie Takumi (@rie_takumi) June 1, 2016

If Fabella workers approve of the transfer, the construction of the six-floor, 800-bed capacity Level 3 hospital inside the DOH compound will proceed and reach completion by May 2017.

The current structure will not be closed and will merely reduce bed occupancy and patient services to "minimize the risk of damage to life and property" in the event of a man-made or natural disaster.

Patients and staff will be temporarily transferred to the Philippine General Hospital, José R. Reyes Memorial Medical Center, Fabella outpatient department in Quezon City, and other hospitals until its completion.

Fabella will NOT be abolished, tenure not affected; new hirees will work until May 2017; on-site dev not possible pic.twitter.com/gOWkug0gjV

— Rie Takumi (@rie_takumi) June 1, 2016

"Fabella will not be abolished. Sabi nila, matatanggal daw Fabella. No. E yung lumang Fabella nga, hindi mo mapaayos-ayos, hindi mo mapabakbak yung building because it's part of the National Historical Institute," Garin said.

The transfer to the DOH compound was deemed necessary as current facilities were declared to be structurally unsound by private contractor ESCA Incorporated in 2016.

Finding by ESCA on structurally-unsound Fabella Hospital pic.twitter.com/A6HR9teM9n

— Rie Takumi (@rie_takumi) June 1, 2016

ESCA's findings were backed  by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Bureau of Design.

"Pumili kayo: ire-retrofit ba o ililipat? 'Yan ang sinabi ng mga experto. Pero sinabi nila, kung ire-retrofit 'yan, eto yung consequences. Kung lilipat naman kayo, eto ang dapat gawin," Garin said.

Moreover, the area where Fabella is located is owned by the Home Guaranty Corp. (HGC) and not the DOH.

"Ang lupa ng Fabella, hindi siya pag-aari ng DOH at dalawang beses nang ibinenta, nagkasanglaan, marami nang nangyari diyan. There's a huge legal burden in so far as the land on which Fabella exists," Garin said.

Contrary to rumors that Fabella will be privatized, Garin said Fabella will neither be privatized nor turned into a government-controlled corporation.

"Walang planong i-convert siya into a GOCC (Government Owned and Control Corporation). Malayong-malayo po 'yan. Totoong nagkaroon po ng proposal dati yung aking predecessor, pero hindi na namin 'yun pinahintulutan," she explained.

About P1.617 billion was allocated by the DOH for the infrastructure of the new Fabella building.

Retrofitting the old Fabella building will cost P300 million and will take at least three years to complete.

None of the budget used for the construction of the new building nor the reconstruction of Fabella came from private partners.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) approved of the budget for the Fabella modernization project in May 29, 2014.

Full accountability sought

Should Fabella employees vote to stay put, employees and patients alike will still be temporarily transferred to other hospitals to give way to the retrofitting of the old building.

"Hindi mo pwedeng hintayin yung bagong building. Manganganak at manganganak yung mga pasyente. We have students there, we have residents there, trainees there. It's a teaching and training hospital. Hindi pwedeng ihinto ang kanilang training," Garin said.

Regardless of the outcome of the vote, Garin said they will "submit to the demands of the majority" and endorse the results to the new administration.

"We are bound by rules and we are bound by laws. Gagawin namin at gagawin ko ang lahat ng makakayanan ko, pero merong mga hangganan," Garin said.

She added that everyone involved should avoid spreading misinformation to set patients at ease and let employees decide on the best course of action.

"Let's avoid misinformation... Sana, kung anong nakakabuti sa marami, yun ang gawin," Garin said. — APG, GMA News