DBP offers aid to healthcare facilities

PUBLIC and private healthcare institutions can tap the Development Bank of the PHILIPPINES (DBP) FOR fiNANCING TO BOOST their capacity during outbreaks and national public health emergencies, the state-run lender ASSURED ON THURSDAY.

In a statement, DBP President and Chief Executive Officer Emmanuel Herbosa said his bank’s initiatives under its Strategic Healthcare Investments for Enhanced Lending and Development (Shield) program would benefit companies and local government units seeking to enhance accessibility to healthcare services, especially to low-income groups in underserved communities.

DBP Shield is a program that provides funding support to hospitals, laboratories, diagnostic centers clinics and primary care providers, including pharmacies and family physician clinics, that need to develop or construct and acquire healthcare facilities and equipment.

As of end- January 2020, the program extended P11.25 billion to 85 borrowers. It has a longer repayment period of 15 years at prevailing rates and inclusive of a three-year grace period.

“Interested borrowers may coordinate with any of our 23 lending centers nationwide and/or access the DBP website…to get the program mechanics of DBP Shield,” the DBP chief said.

Based on government data, there are more than 1,400 hospitals in the country. Of these, about 32 percent or about 463 are government-run.

Of the total number, about 58 percent are in Luzon, 17 percent in the Visayas and 19 percent in Mindanao.

The “DBP is prepared to fill in the need to develop new health care facilities in the country and improve overall preparedness of the nation especially during outbreaks and national public health emergencies” Herbosa said.

DBP is the eighth largest bank in the country in terms of assets and provides credit support to four strategic sectors of the economy: infrastructure and logistics; micro, small and medium enterprises; social services and community development; and the environment.

operation of any privately owned passenger vessels to serve as temporary medical facilities.”