LINGAYEN – Amid rising cost of medicines and health services, Gov. Victor E. Agbayani stressed here last week that the province will further strengthen its health care delivery program to serve the needs of more Pangasinenses.

Agbayani said the second phase of the rehabilitation of the Western District Hospital in Alaminos City has started.

Expansion of the Don Mariano Verzosa Memorial Hospital in Lingayen is also ongoing as governor wants to convert the hospital into a district hospital to better serve the health needs of the second district and parts of the first district.

“The Urdaneta District Hospital is likewise undergoing major rehabilitation and we will continue to expand the Provincial Hospital in San Carlos City,” Agbayani said.

He said the province will also push its immunization program among schoolchildren, targeting some 56,000 Grade I pupils. Some 32,000 grade one pupils have already received BCG vaccination under the province’s anti-tuberculosis campaign.

Dr. Jackson Soriano, OIC provincial health officer, said Vitamin A supplementation is ongoing in various elementary schools all over the province.

Meanwhile, the governor said the province will pursue its tie-up with the local government units in its effort to build more potable water systems in rural area like the one in Agno town.

Nearing completion is another potable water project in Infanta town.