By Eva Visperas
Mapandan Mayor Karl Christian Vega announced plans to build a dialysis center using proceeds from the town’s March fiesta popularity contest, Mrs. Mapandan International.
The facility will be constructed on a privately owned lot donated by the mayor’s family, beside the Rural Health Unit’s BUCAS Center. It will initially house 12 dialysis machines in a 220-square-meter building.
Vega said the project addresses the growing number of dialysis patients in Pangasinan. Many Mapandan residents currently travel to Mangaldan several times a week for treatment, with the local government shouldering transport costs.
The supplier will provide machines and manpower under a 10-year agreement, with ownership transferring to the LGU afterward. Machines will be replaced in the eighth year per regulations.
Arrangements are being finalized to allow direct PhilHealth claims processing so qualified patients will not pay out of pocket. Construction is expected to begin after the town fiesta, with possible future expansion depending on demand.