Malabuyoc hospital set for Level 1 upgrade after Capitol usufruct deal

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — The Mariano Jesus Cuenco Memorial Hospital in Malabuyoc is set to become a Level 1 hospital after the Cebu Provincial Government finalized a usufruct agreement that will allow it to manage and further develop the facility.

The planned upgrade forms part of the Capitol’s efforts to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and expand government health services in southwest Cebu.

Governor Pamela Baricuatro said the province considers the project a priority due to the growing need for higher-level healthcare services in the area.

READ: Capitol adopts community-driven health investment road map for Cebu

“That part of the province, nagkinahanglan kaayo og Level 1 hospital (That part of the province really needs a Level 1 hospital),” Baricuatro said during a press conference on Wednesday, June 17.

Under PhilHealth standards, a Level 1 hospital is equipped with isolation facilities, maternity and dental clinics, first-level X-ray services, a secondary clinical laboratory with a consulting pathologist, a blood station, and a pharmacy.

Usufruct deal signed

Baricuatro said the execution of a usufruct agreement was one of the requirements for the facility’s conversion into a Level 1 hospital.

The agreement grants the provincial government the authority to use, develop, and manage the hospital property while ownership of the land remains with the Malabuyoc municipal government.

The arrangement enables the hospital to transition from an infirmary offering emergency, outpatient, and maternity care into a fully licensed Level 1 general hospital.

READ: PhilHealth suspends Cebu Maternity Hospital accreditation for 3 months

Baricuatro led the signing of the agreement on June 15, 2026, together with Malabuyoc Mayor Erlinda Piedad, Capitol Piso Health Consultant Dr. Nikki Catalan, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Sheila Faciol, and Provincial Engineer Hector Jamora.

The upgrade follows the implementation of a P6-million repair and improvement project for the hospital, awarded to Pablo S. Labasbas Construction Corporation on February 23, 2026.

Records from the Cebu Infrastructure Project Management and Monitoring System said the project is 52.1 percent complete as of this report.

Argao hospital upgrade ongoing

Meanwhile, Baricuatro said improvement works are also underway at the Isidro C. Kintanar Memorial Hospital in Argao.

The Cebu Provincial Government allocated more than P10.6 million for the project, which includes repainting the hospital building and constructing slope protection structures and a perimeter fence.

The improvements are intended to enhance the facility’s safety, maintenance, and overall condition.

READ: Capitol works with CNU, VSMMC to give scholarships to aspiring doctors

A sewage treatment facility is also being planned to ensure proper wastewater treatment and prevent contamination that could threaten public health and the environment.

The upgrades in Malabuyoc and Argao are among the provincial government’s ongoing healthcare reforms, which focus on rehabilitating facilities, improving services, modernizing medical equipment, and hiring more healthcare workers.

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