Mindanao specialty center for kidney diseases fully operational by Q1 2024 MIF gets Senate nod, now under bicameral scrutiny

The Senate approved at exactly 2 a.m. on Wednesday Senate Bill (SB) 2020, or the Maharlika Investment Fund (MIF) Bill, with a total of 19 affirmative votes, one negative and one abstention.

This, after the measure went under marathon of amendments in the plenary after Senate Minority Leader Aquilino Pimentel III raised some concerns in his turno en contra speech on Tuesday afternoon, saying the measure was “unjustified and unneeded”.

Sponsored by Senator Mark Villar, the MIF seeks to establish the Maharlika Investment Corporation (MIC), which “shall act as the sole vehicle for the purpose of mobilizing and utilizing the MIF for investments in transactions in order to generate optimal returns on investments (ROIs).”

It is also expected to contribute to the overall goal of the government to reinvigorate job creation and accelerate poverty reduction by sustaining the country’s economic growth.

During the interpellations, Villar cited numerous benefits that the country will attain once the MIF bill is passed into law.

By MAYA M. PADILLO

“We have carefully studied and analyzed the MIF bill. We made revisions and added more safeguards to ensure that the version will benefit the Filipino people,” he said.

Villar said the proposed measure has a lot of benefits and among these are the job opportunities that will be created through the infrastructure projects that the fund will help finance.

He said the measure will help “promote economic growth since better infrastructure leads to more efficient transportation, communication, and other systems.”

“Also, this will be a vehicle to reduce poverty, this would help the government manage its budget and mitigate fiscal pressures during economic downturns as it acts as a safety net for the country,” he explained.

Villar said the MIF may be used to invest in infrastructures for the agriculture and energy sectors, among others.

“This is what the Maharlika is there for -- it’s to generate jobs and generate investments in the sectors that lack investment,” he said.

Certified as “urgent” by PresFMIF, P8

Aspecialty

center for kidney diseases, which will be built inside the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) complex, is seen to be fully operational in the first quarter of 2024.

Dr. Leopoldo “Bong” Vega, former chief of hospital of SPMC and the brainchild of the said project told Edge Davao the construction already started three years ago and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.

“It was under my watch when plans were concretized and implemented,” he said.

Vega added that the project is now under the leadership of SPMC chief Dr. Ricardo Audan for its inaugural by the end of 2023 and its operation by the first quarter of 2024.

Vega said the construction is being funded by the Department of Health (DOH).

“This is a specialty center for kidney diseases and its location will be in the SPMC compound. This has been my project since I was the chief of hospital before I retired,” he explained.

Vega further stated that the clinic will provide specialty treatment to more patients not just in Davao but also throughout Mindanao.

Meanwhile, on May 18, 2024, Vega accompanied Jarosław Szcepankiewicz, Poland’s Ambassador to the Philippines, in a