• January 26, 2024

𝐃𝐁𝐌 𝐒𝐞𝐜. 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐈𝐧𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐁𝐌-𝐟𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐎𝐇 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 (𝐇𝐅𝐄𝐏)

#MSUMagAt50 | Department of Budget and Management Secretary Amenah F. Pangandaman together with Chancellor Bai Hejira Nefertiti M. Limbona, PhD, DBM Undersecretaries Margaux V. Salcedo and Wilford Will L. Wong, MOTC Minister Atty. Paisalin Tago, CPA, Cotabato City Mayor Mohammad “Bruce” Matabalao, IPHO Provincial Health Officer Dr. Mohammad Ariff Baguindali, DBM Regional Director XII Akmad Usman inaugurated the newly constructed MSU-Maguindanao Infirmary on January 24, 2024. The ceremonial ribbon-cutting marked the completion of a project aligned with the university’s vision to become a premier innovative center of development in the region.

In her message, Chancellor Limbona conveyed that the inauguration of the University infirmary is more than just a ceremonial event, but a program representing the national government’s commitment in enhancing access to basic services in geographically isolated and underserved areas. She expressed gratitude to DBM Sec. Pangandaman for the funding that made this project realized, acknowledging its impact on raising healthcare standards within the surrounding cultural communities. The new infirmary facility will not only serve the University, but also extend its reach to nearby communities, offering both medical care and opportunities for MSU to expand its healthcare and health-related academic programs. Additionally, she unveiled plans for the future including the additional 20M pesos allocated for infrastructure and equipment upgrade, which will elevate the facility to a Level 1 hospital. She also recognized the support of DOH Asec. Leonila Gorgolon and the late MOH Director General Usman in bringing this vision to life.

Secretary Pangandaman lauded the inauguration of the infirmary facility as a significant milestone for the university, being the first established under the Department of Budget and Management
-funded Department of Health (Philippines) Health Facilities Enhancement Program (HFEP). The healthcare facility would strengthen the socio-economic development in Maguindanao, contributing to the overall development of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao and the country at large.
 
She also shared a conversation with Senator Angara from her stint as BSP Assistant Governor, discussing the potential inclusion of budgets for State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) to establish healthcare facilities, aiming to bring their services closer to the people.
 
Furthermore, Sec. Pangandaman mentioned the recent approval of funding for 673 faculty positions across MSU campuses. She emphasized the importance of education and PBBM’s commitment to prioritizing and investing in the education sector. “𝘏𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪 𝘱𝘢 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘶𝘳𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘥 𝘴𝘢 𝘪𝘯𝘺𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘢𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘢 𝘭𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘵 𝘴𝘢 𝘢𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘶𝘴𝘰 𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘰 𝘭𝘢𝘭𝘰 𝘯𝘢 𝘱𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘶𝘴𝘢𝘱𝘪𝘯 𝘯𝘨 𝘱𝘢𝘨𝘱𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘭𝘢𝘥 𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘰. 𝘐 𝘢𝘮 𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥 𝘥𝘢𝘶𝘨𝘩𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘢 𝘔𝘦𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘸. 𝘛𝘩𝘶𝘴, 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘥𝘦 𝘪𝘵 𝘮𝘺 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 𝘢𝘥𝘷𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘤𝘺 𝘵𝘰 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘔𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘦𝘴𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘐 𝘤𝘢𝘯”.
 
Sec. Pangandaman concluded by reaffirming her commitment to upholding the DBM’s mandate to uplift the lives of Filipino people. She pledged to continue advocating for Mindanao aiming for an inclusive, responsive, and accountable government to promote lasting peace and development in the region.
 
The event ended with the presentation of plaques and tokens to Sec. Mina and other officials, symbolizing appreciation for their contributions to the realization of the upgraded infirmary.
 
Present were Assistant Director Atty. Diana Camacho-Mercado from Advocacy, Communications, and Training Services; Dr. Artawan Pangandaman-Indon, Supervising Dentist IPHO Lanao; Ms. Juhairah V. Buradtong and Emma Alim, BTA Staff of MP Sinolinding; Nursahiddin A. Ibrahim, Maguindanao Del Norte PGO-ICTD; Atty. Amenolah Macadali; Razul D. Gayak from MOTC; Amisarah Diron Pangandaman and Tatamokun D. Pangandaman from DepEd Marawi along with various officials and representatives from MSU-Maguindanao, faculty, staff, and students.
 
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MSU-Maguindanao Infirmary Facility aimed to provide superior healthcare services to its constituents equipped with essential features such as an emergency area, nurse station, isolation room, dental clinic, and pharmacy, catering to both public and private wards, with special considerations for persons with disabilities and senior citizens. This initiative contributes to the overall well-being of the surrounding communities. Furthermore, it solidifies the university’s position as an MSU-System member-campus and enhances its status as a Higher Educational Institution (HEI), aligning it with top-ranking schools nationally and globally. Ultimately, the upgraded facility serves as a foundational step towards the university’s future plans of offering medical-related degree programs, emphasizing its commitment to producing globally competitive graduates in terms of physical and mental fitness.