Cavite has no public hospital of its own

CAVITE, Philippines — Despite being one of the country’s wealthiest provinces, Cavite remains without a provincial government-run public hospital, forcing residents to travel to neighboring areas or rely on costly private facilities during medical emergencies.

Cavite’s annual income, which exceeded 5.3 billion Philippine pesos in 2023 according to the Commission on Audit, places it among the top five richest provinces in the Philippines. However, the provincial government does not operate its own tertiary-level hospital. Instead, it refers patients to district hospitals managed by the Department of Health or to private medical centers.

Residents and local officials say the absence of a provincial hospital creates significant barriers to timely health care, particularly for low-income families.

“In emergencies, every minute counts. But we have to travel to Dasmariñas or even to Manila just to find a government hospital that can admit us,” said Marilou Reyes, a tricycle driver from Trece Martires City. “Private hospitals are nearby, but we cannot afford them.”

Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority shows Cavite’s population reached 4.3 million in 2020, making it the most populous province in the country. Health care advocates argue that the province’s rapid urbanization and population growth have outpaced its public health infrastructure.

In response, Cavite Capitol acknowledged the issue in a recent provincial board session, stating that the government is in the early planning stages of building a provincial hospital. “We are working with the national government to secure funding and approval. This is a priority,” the Capitol said.

However, no timeline or budget has been publicly released.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health has allocated additional beds and equipment to existing district hospitals in Cavite City, Naic, and General Emilio Aguinaldo, but officials concede these remain insufficient to meet demand.

Local health rights group Kalusugan ng Bayan said the situation highlights a paradox.

“Cavite generates billions in revenues but lags behind poorer provinces like Marinduque or Apayao, which have their own provincial hospitals. This is a matter of political will,” the group said in a statement.

As the province continues to attract new residents and industrial investments, the call for a fully equipped, provincial government-run hospital grows louder.

For now, Caviteños face a stark choice: long commutes for affordable care or high costs for proximity.