“Not just new facilities—we’re making KPH ready when Kalinga families need it most. Fellow iKalingas, this is our hospital” – Vice-Governor Odiem

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — Kalinga Vice Governor Atty. Dave Q. Odiem underscored the importance of strengthening healthcare services in the province, saying the newly inaugurated facilities and equipment at the Kalinga Provincial Hospital (KPH) are more than physical improvements—they are investments that could make a difference when a Kalinga family needs medical care the most.

Odiem delivered the message through his representative, Jan Jericho Odiem, during the inauguration and blessing of the newly renovated Emergency Room, new X-ray machine, Patient Transport Vehicle (PTV), and hemodialysis machine at KPH in Bulanao, Tabuk City, on August 18, 2026.

“I see today’s inauguration differently. We are not simply opening a renovated Emergency Room or putting new equipment into service. We are making the hospital more prepared for the moment when a Kalinga family needs it most,” Odiem said.

He emphasized that investments in healthcare are ultimately investments in the lives and well-being of the people, noting that modern facilities and equipment must be matched by dedicated healthcare workers who can provide compassionate and quality service.

Odiem also recognized the doctors, nurses, medical staff and support personnel of KPH, stressing that it is the people working inside the hospital who truly give meaning and life to its facilities and services.

“A hospital can have beautiful facilities, but what truly gives it life are the people who work inside it. To our doctors, nurses, medical staff, and support personnel: these improvements come with a greater responsibility to continue giving our people not only good medical service, but also patience, respect, and compassion,” he said.

The vice governor also reminded fellow iKalingas that the newly improved facilities belong to the people and should serve as a reflection of the provincial government’s continuing commitment to accessible and responsive healthcare.

“And to our fellow iKalingas, this is our hospital. These facilities are for us. May you feel that your provincial government is continuously working to make healthcare more accessible, more reliable, and more responsive to your needs,” Odiem said.

He stressed that the blessing and inauguration should not be viewed as the conclusion of a project, but as the beginning of improved healthcare delivery for Kalinga residents.

“Let today’s blessing not be the end of something, but the beginning of better service.

Because the real measure of these facilities will not be how beautiful they look today, but how many people they will be able to help tomorrow,” he added.

Odiem’s message highlighted the deeper significance of the KPH improvements: that every investment in healthcare should ultimately translate into lives saved, patients cared for, and families given hope during some of their most difficult moments.