11/01/2026
Headline: PUBLIC SERVICE OR PERSONAL BUSINESS? 🏥⚖️
The Ormoc City LGU, led by Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez, is launching a major investigation into the Ormoc Maternity House and Children's Hospital.
For nearly 30 years, this institution has occupied city-owned land for a "token rental" of just ₱1,000 per month. The agreement was simple: in exchange for nearly free rent, the hospital must provide charitable medical services to indigent Ormocanon mothers and children.
However, serious "red flags" have emerged:
❌ Alleged charging of indigent patients for services meant to be free.
❌ Subleasing violations for 10x the cost of their own rent.
❌ Major tax discrepancies and financial reporting gaps.
❌ Failure to provide data on how they actually qualify charitable cases.
"The hospital used the space almost for free, yet it was run like a personal business," says Mayor Gomez.
The LGU is now signaling a potential termination or major overhaul of this long-standing agreement to ensure public resources truly benefit the poor.