Mayor Cezar T. Quiambao graced on Thursday, September 8, 2016, the inauguration of a personal dream project that seemed too grandiose and impossible at the start but, through sheer grace and miracle, proved to be doable: the Saint Vincent Ferrer Dialysis Center.

A project that had been conceived long before CTQ decided to enter politics, it was spearheaded by Rotary member Ms. Niña Jose, who led the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The dialysis center, which is located at the LTO compound in Quezon Blvd., is a vision of cutting-edge modernity and sleek design. Its engineer, Aaron A. Villafuerte, and architects, Jericho A. Roble and Jerry Suratos, were on hand to lend their presence.
The simple affair proved to be a family affair as well, as both members of the Quiambao and Jose families attended, including the mayor’s brother and his little twins and Jose’s mother and siblings.

Rotary Club of Bayambang members were all out in their support for their fellow Rotarian. They were led by their President, Dr. Letty Ursua, Vice-President Julie Fernandez, Secretary Gloria Valenzuela, and member Krishna Cayabyab, among other members.
Incidentally, Ms. Fernandez is also a project consultant for the facility.

A little past 10 AM, Fr. Allen Romero led the motley crowd in the blessing of the facility, which is headed by Managing Director Dr. Dennis Iniego, head nephrologist Dr. Francisco Untalan III, and Internal Medicine Consultant Dra. Vissia Galvez.
The spanking new facility, which costs P5M to build, boasts of newly bought state-of-the-art dialysis machines that each cost P1.2M and altogether cost P10M. The dialysis machines are all Dialog+ by Braun, a top-quality German brand.

“Our facility has the cleanest water in town,” said Dr. Iniego. “The reverse osmosis used here is systemized for medical use. Our medical-grade water has a measure of .0001 in the tds meter.”
“Each staff received P32,000 worth of training,” Dr. Iniego also noted.

“One dialysis session alone may cost P2,900 or P4,600,” Dr. Iniego explained. “Erythropoetin (drug) costs P1,100. In case of clotting, the tubing needed will cost P600; in case of another clotting, the patient will have to shoulder the next tubing set. One box of heparin costs P350, while the dialyzer with temporary filter is worth P1,600.”
“The prices I quoted are all supplier price,” he clarified.

“Here, there is no infectious waste, no hazardous waste. And in the whole of southwestern Pangasinan, only two places have this kind of facility, the other one being in Malasiqui.”

“The use of equipment and services at Saint Vincent Ferrer Dialysis Center is 100% free for all Bayambang residents,” Dr. Iniego announced. “Patients who are non-residents need to have a PhilHealth card to be able to avail of our service.”

The whole thing is yet another philanthropic project of Mayor Quiambao, out of his love for the people of Bayambang. As though that is not enough of a marvel in itself, its entire operation will subsist through the goodness of other benefactors who refuse to be named.