Rogaciano M. Mercado Memorial Hospital is the only public hospital in Santa Maria, Bulacan.

Last year on October 18, the groundbreaking ceremony of a new general hospital was conducted, named the New Rogaciano M. Mercado Memorial Hospital, towering over Barangay San Gabriel with its heaping six storeys. Led by incumbent Mayor Bartolome “Omeng” Ramos, together with former Vice Mayor Pablo “Eboy” Juan, and Congressman Salvador “Ador” Pleyto.

Under the level 2 hospital category, the project is renowned for its Japanese technology base isolator, designed to withstand earthquakes. With 2,400 square meters per storey, and a 500-bed capacity, the building’s roofdeck would also have a helipad.

Such was the excitement for a new and better healthcare for the citizens of Santa Maria, as Mayor Omeng also complained with the pre-existing hospital’s state: “Kapag nga pumasok ako sa ospital natin tila, tila may sakit ka ‘di ka makalalabas nang magaling ka,” he shared in an interview by the municipality.

Now, only a trace of its foundations remains, with it, the ghost of their promise.

SEPTEMBER 6

Following a series of exposés surrounding the flood control project scandal, citizens then questioned what happened to the promised new hospital. Official documents and data revealed its relation to the controversial contractor couple Cezarah and Curlee Discaya, owners of Great Pacific Builders and Gen. Contractor Inc., which was awarded the second out of four phases of the project.

In response, the municipality of Santa Maria suggested not to believe in ‘fake and bogus accounts,’ citing various points about the project. They made clear that the project is a six-storey building, not three, which apparently outdated official DPWH papers provided.

The municipality then clarified that the budget for the project does not go through the municipality, but only straight to the Department of Public Works and Highways, which did the bidding and enacted the hospital.

”Una, hindi sa Munisipyo dumadaan ang pondo. Diretso itong ibinababa sa DPWH na siyang nagpa-bidding at nagpapatupad ng proyekto. Ikalawa, walang hawak o kontrol ang Lokal na Pamahalaan sa pondong ito. Ang papel lamang ng ating mga lingkod-bayan ay magsikap at kumatok sa mga ahensya para matiyak na may pondo para matuloy ang ating pangarap na ospital," the post read.

The statement cited the 71 million pesos fund that came from Senator Pia Cayetano—which was requested by Mayor Omeng, and the first senator to help—went down to the DPWH 2nd District Engineering Office in Pulong Buhangin. An additional 250 million pesos from the office of Cong. Pleyto also supported the project for its next phases, hence remains to be unused.

SEPTEMBER 14

Amid the height of the flood control corruption, the highest rated television show Kapuso Mo, Jessica Soho released a series of investigations surrounding anomalous projects. The hospital was included.

The hospital project’s approved budget is 380 million pesos, in which phase 1 costs 59.9 million pesos; 28 million for the whole design of the project as per Mayor Omeng, and the remaining 31.8 million pesos used for the foundations of the building. The budget was handled by the municipality of Santa Maria.

The almost 72 million pesos budget for phase 2 is held by the DPWH Pulong Buhangin office, its contractor the Discaya couple.

According to 2nd District Engineer George Santos of DPWH Bulacan, they discovered that the building’s foundation needs geosynthetics, which would have acted as a moisture barrier. However, the material, combined with labor and equipment, costs Php 11,024,921, which has no budget.

So, they lessened the fund by reallocating a budget from another project from Phase 2. From a three-storey building, as they said, with the budget left, only the foundation was plausible. Biddings for phases 3 and 4 were cancelled on March 20, 2025.

During the buzz after the broadcast journalist’s probe, on September 23, current Vice Mayor Roberto “Obet” Perez, who was not part of the project, asked for a copy of the documents surrounding the 59.8 million pesos contract of the hospital. This includes the contract agreement, the Bill of Quantities (BOQ), accomplishment reports, and certificates of inspection and acceptance—through a letter directed to Mayor Omeng.

OCTOBER

Also, in response to KMJS, the municipality released an interview with the mayor, cut into six parts, spanning from October 2 to 9, which addressed multiple issues in Santa Maria: its traffic, garbage management, its marketplace, and three reels surrounding the hospital.

Mayor Omeng began that it has always been his dream for the hospital to happen, following Typhoon Ondoy’s damage to the Rogaciano M. Mercado Memorial Hospital. However, he did admit that there was corruption, particularly, the Discayas. Still, he assured that they would give all necessary documents from their part, and that hopefully, the hospital would be finished in his time.

On October 7, the Office of the Mayor responded to VM Obet’s request from September 23, inviting him to his office to accept the documents.

However, just hours later, the office of the mayor said that his request is still under study.

On the 15th, VM Obet Perez was instead referred to the office of the Municipal Engineer, ‘in accordance with existing rules and procedures.’

On the 17th, the Municipal Engineer said that the requested documents were already submitted to the Commission on Audit, ‘in compliance with standard auditing protocols.’

In his video, the Vice Mayor asked where the documents were. He then shared a highlight of Engineer Carmelita Guevarra’s answer documented from a regular session of the Sangguniang Bayan on October 6, providing that they have those documents.

That same day, Councilor Carl Castillo and co-author Councilor Neil Mateo’s Draft Ordinance no. 10, series of 2025: “Ordinance Institutionalizing the Local Freedom of Information (FOI) policy in Santa Maria, Bulacan, Providing for Mechanisms of Access to Information, and for Other Purposes,” was passed on its second reading. The committee included some of Perez’s suggestions from his FOI draft.

AFTERCARE

On October 3, a medical mission was carried out on Barangay Mag-asawang Sapa. On the 7th, another medical mission was conducted on Santa Maria.

The Super Health Center of Santa Maria was inaugurated on the 10th of October, located in Barangay San Gabriel, near the hospital project, so that it may not be overloaded once it is open.