HISTORY OF TARLAC PROVINCIAL HOSPIAL

The Tarlac Provincial Hospital was established in 1923, in a converted and remodeled
building (Tarlac High School) about half a kilometer away from the town proper, the first
Provincial Hospital created under Republic Act No. 2114 as amended by Act No. 3168.
The 30 bed hospital which functioned purely as a service hospital was formally
inaugurated on January 23, 1924 with Dr. Alfonso C. Concepcion, of Camiling, Tarlac, a
resident physician of Baguio Hospital was the first Chief of Hospital. In 1935, two
additional wings, the private pavilion and the surgical pavilion were constructed. After
eleven years of existence, the bed capacity was increased to sixty five beds. With the
admission of pay patients, the income of the hospital increased. With provincial and
municipal aids, and some donations, the Institution was able to serve the people
continuously, up to the out-break of World War II.

During the occupation (Japanese), the Hospital was divided into three units, to be closer
to the people, since transportation was scarce. The First Unit was set up in Camiling,
Tarlac with Dr. Alfonso Concepcion as Head of the Unit; the second unit was set up in
Paniqui, Tarlac with Dr. Eleazar Rivera as Officer – in – Charge.

These units remained in their respective stations until the American Forces Liberated
Tarlac, Tarlac on January 20, 1945. The Hospital resumed its operations at the former
Tarlac Provincial Hospital building, immediately after the Americans left the building.
Surplus equipment and medicines came in handy when the Commonwealth Government
authorized the Health Department to draw supplies at the American Depot in San
Fernando, La Union.

In 1953, the F.O.A. gave substantial aid in the form of necessary equipment, including X-
Ray units, operating tables, etc. With the new equipment and additional financial aid, the
authorized bed capacity was further increased to one hundred beds.
Dr. Alfonso C. Concepcion, Chief of Hospital, after continuous service from 1924 to
1955, retired. Dr. Trinidad C. Esguerra took over. With the initiative of the Chief of
Hospital, a new building at an approximated cost of a million pesos gradually rose from
the horizon of a 9.074 hectare piece of land, By the time at would completed it could hold
around, one hundred fifty beds for its minimum bed capacity and expandable to three
hundred beds. It was designed after modem hospitals in the United States. In 1962, the
new building was completed with a “t” configuration. The North-South wing is a one
level concrete structure and is occupied by the Administrative Department, Out-Patient
department, and the dietary Services. The East West portion is a three level structure
which is occupied by the different clinical services. The building is also provided with
elevator shaft for future use. Located at the back of the hospital are the Maintenance,
Laundry, Linen and electrical generator. From 1962 to the present, other buildings were
constructed to augment the needs of the hospital.

The Chief of Hospital and the different Department Heads are provided with quarters
within the hospital compound; likewise other hospital personnel can avail themselves a
dormitory.

The completion of the new building, and the implementation of modern methods of
hospital service will add more to the eligibility of the Tarlac Provincial Hospital as a
training, teaching and tertiary hospital. At the start of fiscal year 1962-1963, it assumed
the above status and was able to start admitting resident physicians, affiliate nurses,
midwives, x-ray and laboratory students from affiliate schools in Pangasinan, Nueva
Ecija and Tarlac.

In 1966 Dr. Trinidad C. Esguerra retired from the service and Dr. Sotero B. Torralba, Jr.
succeeded him as Chief of Hospital. Yearly additional new scientific and technical
equipment and instruments were given by the National Government and the authorized
bed capacity was increased from one hundred fifty beds in 1974, to two hundred beds. In
the same manner additional buildings were constructed to wit:
1969, Power House, Maintenance Building and Laundry Area

1970 – Guard House & Waiting Shed

1974 – Extension of OB & Gyne; Intensive Care, Coronary Care Unit, Official quarters

1975 – Male and Female Dormitory; Basketball & Volleyball Courts, Badminton and
Pelota Courts

1976 – C O H Quarters and Official Cottage Male and Female Dormitory

1977 – Nutrition/Rehabilitation Ward

1985 – Outpatient Department and Provincial Warehouse

Extension of Hospital Wards; Construction of garbage house and covered walk 1989;
Extension of Conference Rooms, Medical Records, Laboratory, Repair of fence and
Construction of drainage.

In 1978, Dr. Sotero B. Torralba was transferred to Baguio General Hospital and Dr.
Briccio Y. Pobre became the Chief of Hospital.

In 1983, public health and hospital services were integrated. The Provincial Health Office
now is made up of a public health section and a hospital health service component. The
Tarlac Provincial Hospital became a part of the Provincial Health Office, hospital tighter
with the District and Medicare Hospitals.

In 1988-1990, the Tarlac Provincial Hospital was one of the few hospitals in the
Philippines that was included in the hospital upgrading project by the Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA), as a result of which, it was a recipient of more and new
scientific and technical hospital equipment and instruments.

In the last quarter of 1993 punlic health service and the hospitals in the province
including the Tarlac Provincial Hospital were oficialy devolved to the Provincial
Government of Tarlac and are now under the direct supervision and control both
administratively and financially by the Provincial Government in compliance with Local
Government Code of 1991 (R.A. 7160)

1995 – Center for Mother and Child Health Building.

In 1994, Dr. Ricardo P. Ramos succeeded Dr. Manuel Yambao, who retired. When he
was appended Provincial Health officer II, Dr. Herminia Castaneda became the Chief of
Hospital. Dr. Ludwigo Santos, former Chief of the Concepcion District Hospital
succeeded Dr. Castaneda upon for retirement. When Dr. Santos resigned as Provincial
Health Officer I and Chief of Hospital, Dr. Solidad H. Veloso succeeded him as Chief of
Tarlac Privincial Hospital.

Upon the retirement of Dr. Veloso up to the present Dr. Ricardo Ramos is the Chief of
Hospital.