Manila City Mayor Francisco “Isko” Moreno Domagoso led the inauguration of the newly upgraded emergency room of Ospital ng Sampaloc, fulfilling his earlier commitment to complete the facility within 90 days.
Domagoso said the project reflects his administration’s “Bilis Kilos” approach, emphasizing the need for swift action and timely solutions to improve emergency healthcare services for Manileños.
“I told you 90 days. I committed it to the people of Sampaloc. Basta bigyan niyo lang ako ng 90 days. But I’m happy, natapos agad bago mag-90 days,” the mayor said.
He said the new emergency room was designed to address long-standing safety issues in public hospitals, recalling past conditions that placed both patients and health workers at risk.
“Saan ka nakakita ng emergency room, check, merong falls.”
“Saan ka nakakita ng emergency room, check, merong falls (dahil may tulo). Literal. Naawa nga ako dun sa isang binatilyo, hindi niya maiwan yung nanay niya sa tabi mismo ng hospital bed, may tabo. And we are the Capital of the country, we are the City of Manila,” Domagoso said.
“How can I say to my fellow co-workers in government if I give them that kind of working environment tapos sasabihin ko mag-smile sila? Ngumiti kayo sa pasyente habang kayo’y hinahampas ng bagyo,” he lamented.
The facility now features clearly marked triage and treatment areas, nurse stations, minor operating rooms, modern hospital beds, and an embedded oxygen system, alongside upgraded support spaces such as a pharmacy window and accessible restrooms.
“Ngayon, pagpasok mo ha, pumapasok ka pa lang nabubuhay ka na. Totoo naman, nung araw nakakatakot pumasok sa public hospital talaga. Tingin mo nagdidilim na ang paningin mo, lalong dumidilim ang buhay mo,” Domagoso said.
He added the improved working environment for medical staff and the upgraded care spaces for patients reflect the city government’s commitment to Minimum Basic Needs—particularly healthcare—as part of sustained investment in the welfare of Manileños.
“I hope this type of facility, especially to our employees, will give you a certain level of better working environment, at the very least,” Domagoso said.
He highlighted the recent release of long-delayed Health Emergency Allowance (HEA) payments to contact tracers and medical frontliners, noting that some workers received up to ₱72,000 after waiting for nearly three years.
Domagoso also credited city employees for working through weekends to process the payments, recounting how misplaced checks were tracked down and released through what he described as simple acts of malasakit from rank-and-file staff.
“Tinta lang ang puhunan, resolba na ‘yung tatlong taong hinagpis ng ating health workers.”
“We’ve released it last Friday. Signed it, and awa ng Diyos, for a simple stroke of a pen. Ganoon po kadali. Hindi po mahirap yung ginawa ko. Napakasimple lang po nung ginawa ko nung dumating ‘yung papel. Tinta lang ang puhunan, resolba na ‘yung tatlong taong hinagpis ng ating health workers,” he said.
“And I’m happy to share last Saturday, paldo ‘yung mga may HEA. Opo, ganoon mo, three years oh. Hindi gumapang, hindi gumalaw ‘yung papel nila. But they worked for it, even to the point that some of them got infected during the COVID-19,” Domagoso concluded.
