24/03/2026
LOOK: Another hospital managed by the Department of Health is being proposed for Bantayan Island to improve access to healthcare in northern Cebu.
Fourth District Representative Sun Shimura has filed House Bill 8644, seeking the establishment of the Madridejos General Hospital—a Level 1 facility under DOH supervision—in the municipality of Madridejos.
Under the proposed measure, the local government unit of Madridejos will provide the land for the hospital, which must be strategically located and compliant with DOH standards for a Level 1 health facility.
In his explanatory note, Shimura emphasized that Madridejos is a geographically isolated town at the northern tip of Bantayan Island, making access to quality healthcare difficult for residents.
“As an island municipality separated from mainland Cebu by sea, Madridejos faces structural barriers in accessing hospital-based care, especially during medical emergencies and adverse weather conditions,” he said.
He added that while rural health units and barangay health stations offer primary outpatient services, there is currently no DOH-managed inpatient facility readily accessible to residents.
If approved, the proposed hospital will serve around 140,000 residents and provide essential services, including 24-hour emergency care, general medical and pediatric services, maternal and newborn care—including basic emergency obstetric and newborn care (BEmONC)—minor surgical procedures, isolation facilities for infectious diseases, and laboratory and radiologic services.
Shimura filed the bill on March 18 following his visit to Madridejos on February 5 with DOH-7 Regional Director Joshua Brillantes and Mayor Romeo Villaceran.
Currently, Bantayan Island has one district hospital operated by the Cebu Provincial Government.
| RCO
