A provincial official is demanding urgent reforms at Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital (OMPH) following an incident in which medical staff declared a newborn dead, only for the infant to show signs of life when the family transported the child to another hospital.

Board Member Anthony Yap used the controversy to renew calls for the hospital to be converted into a regional medical center under the national Department of Health (DOH), saying the province has repeatedly failed to address service problems.

“Nakakalungkot at nakakagalit na naman ‘yung balitang kumakalat ngayon tungkol sa isang kababayan nating nawalan ng anak dahil sa kakulangan ng maayos na serbisyo sa hospital,” Yap wrote on Facebook. (It’s heartbreaking and infuriating again, this news spreading now about our fellow Mindoreño who lost a child due to lack of proper hospital service.)

“Hindi ito dapat nangyayari. Ilang beses ko na itong sinasabi sa aming mga session: ayusin at tapusin na ang problema sa hospital service!” he added. (This should not be happening. I’ve said this many times in our sessions: fix and end the problem with hospital service!)

Liza Villanueva said in a social media post that hospital staff pronounced her baby dead Thursday evening, but the family grew suspicious when the infant’s skin did not exhibit expected post-mortem discoloration hours later.

When relatives checked for vital signs and transported the child to Sta Maria Village, the baby registered a pulse rate of 68 that rose to 80, according to Villanueva’s FB post.

“Sobrang kademunyuhan ang ginawa niyo sa batang ito Provincial Hospital, sabi niyo kagabi patay na ang bata,” Villanueva wrote. (What you did to this child is extremely evil, Provincial Hospital, you said last night the baby was dead.) “Mananagot kayo sa mga pinggagawa niyo sa sanggol na walang kamaly malay na kinitilan niyo ng buhay.” (You will be held accountable for what you did to an innocent infant whose life you cut short.)

The infant, identified in social media posts as Prince Noah, subsequently died.

Yap criticized provincial priorities and accused the provincial government led by Gov. Bonz Dolor of blocking efforts to improve healthcare.

“Paulit-ulit na lang ang reklamo, pero hanggang ngayon, wala pa ring konkretong aksyon. At simula nang alisin sa amin ang committee na ito, wala na kaming nakikitang malinaw na galaw,” he wrote. (The complaints just keep repeating, but until now, there’s still no concrete action. And since they removed this committee from us, we haven’t seen any clear movement.)

The board member called for the provincial hospital to become the MIMAROPA Regional Hospital under DOH supervision, saying this would bring increased national funding and more specialist doctors.

“Panahon na para seryosohin ‘to. Huwag na haranging maging MIMAROPA Regional Hospital under DOH ang ating Provincial Hospital sa Calapan City para mas mabilis, mas maayos, at mas makataong serbisyo sa bawat Mindoreño, malaking pondo ang lalagyan ng National Government,” Yap said. (It’s time to take this seriously. Don’t block our Provincial Hospital in Calapan City from becoming MIMAROPA Regional Hospital under DOH for faster, better, and more humane service for every Mindoreño, the National Government will provide large funding.)

If that option is rejected, Yap said the province has sufficient funds for quality service “kung gugustuhin lang” (if they just wanted to).

“Bawasan natin ang mga gastusin na walang impact sa buhay ng tao — ‘yung mga building na hindi naman kailangan, mga bonggang selebrasyon, mga lakwatsa’t biyahe na puro palabas lang pero walang pakinabang sa tao,” he wrote. (Let’s reduce expenses that have no impact on people’s lives — buildings that aren’t needed, grand celebrations, junkets and trips that are all for show but have no benefit to people.)

“Dahil sa dulo, ang tunay na lider, hindi nagpapasikat kundi nagliligtas ng mga buhay,” Yap concluded. (Because in the end, a true leader doesn’t seek fame but saves lives.)

The family has appealed to Governor Humerlito “Bonz” Dolor to investigate the incident.

The governor’s office and Oriental Mindoro Provincial Hospital could not immediately be reached for comment.

The incident provoked widespread anger on social media.

“This is why there’s no progress. They’re lacking doctors and nurses in hospitals,” commented Gary Cantos.

Joy Mea Decastro wrote that patients often die “because of neglect… because of those on duty who don’t care.”

Not all reactions were critical.

Ericson G. Mendoza defended the hospital, saying his wife gave birth there without problems and accused critics of exploiting the incident for social media engagement.