UMINGAN: Pangasinan province is set to commence the construction of the PHP200 million Umingan Community Hospital (UCH), marking the beginning of a comprehensive township project. Governor Ramon Guico III, speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, expressed pride in the project, which represents a significant step towards modernizing the region's healthcare facilities. The new 55-bed capacity hospital, located on a four-hectare site in Barangay Gonzales, aims to address the limitations of the existing 15-bed facility in Barangay Poblacion. The current hospital, overwhelmed with nearly 50 patients, also serves people from neighboring towns of Nueva Vizcaya and Nueva Ecija.
According to Philippines News Agency, the project's funding will be sourced partly from the province's Tobacco Excise Tax allocation and its budget. The township project, encompassing a transport terminal, commercial area, housing, a daycare center, a park, and a social hall, is poised to offer significant employment opportunities and enhance the local economy. Vice Mayor Chris Evert Tadeo-Leynes highlighted the project's long-term impact and its realization of a community dream.