TACLOBAN CITY, March 21 -- The construction of Samar Island Medical Center in Calbayog City, Samar, has already started with an allocation of PHP477.68 million, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) reported on Thursday.

DPWH Eastern Visayas regional director Edgar Tabacon said civil works for the first phase of the mother-and-child building and the outpatient building (OPD) will be completed within the year.

Funded under the 2023 appropriation, at least PHP100 million was initially released in late 2023 for the site development and construction of the road network within the project vicinity, including concrete-lined canals and slope protection.

DPWH is tasked to implement the construction of two four-story mother-and-chi...