With a commitment to providing quality and compassionate care, SIMC goes beyond better to ensure the well-being of its patients. On June 17, 1961, Republic Act (RA) No. 3138, “An Act Providing for the Establishment
of an Emergency Hospital in the Municipality of Santiago, Province of Isabela to be
known as the Southern Isabela Emergency Hospital, and Authorizing the Appropriations
of Funds Therefo
r,” was approved. This was championed by Congressman Delfin Albano
who sought to establish an emergency hospital in the municipality of Santiago to provide
inhabitants therein and its adjacent areas, health facilities, proper medical care and health
programs that are not only dedicated to the urban population but also to the people in rural
areas. Southern Isabela Emergency Hospital was established under the management of the local
government of Santiago, Isabela to serve the Santiagueños under the leadership of the former Mayor Raymundo “Dodo” Miranda. By virtue of Municipal Council Resolution No. 191
which was promulgated on August 15, 1961, the Hospital was allocated with an estimated area of 11,967 sq.m., located east, from the land area originally allocated to the Rosario Elementary
School. On June 1, 1974, the Southern Isabela District Hospital (SIDH), with a 25-bed capacity, was
officially founded and took over Southern Isabela Emergency Hospital. This was done in
pursuance to section 7-1 (A) of Commonwealth Act no. 246, as amended, and the Special
Provisions of the Appropriations Decree for the fiscal year 1974. SIDH started its actual
operation on August 1, 1974, with its first Chief of Hospital, Dr. Abraham I. Consequently, Dr. Asuncion “Siony” N. Abaya took over as the Chief of Hospital. In 1993,
the SIDH was devolved to the Provincial Government Office (PGO) of Isabela by virtue of the
Local Government Code. Hence, the PGO legally acquired direct supervision and fiscal control
over the SIDH, however, it still maintained its status as a district hospital. On December 6, 2002, Jose Ildefonso B. Costales, Jr., MD, MHA, CESE, FICS, was
appointed as the new Head of the agency. Through the years, the Hospital continually upgraded its capacities and services. Mabbayad and Dr. Costales were in-charge of the surgical services, Dr. Roselyn L. Dadural
for the OB-Gyne services, Dr. Florosita A. Reyes for the Internal Medicine, and Dr. Ramon B. Hilomen for the Pediatrics and Family and Community Medicine. Also, several private
consultants were invited to contribute to the much-needed services, especially for the
marginalized. As more patients recognized and patronized the services of SIGH being made accessible to all, there was steady influx of patients. SIGH responded gradually increasing its implementing
capacity to 50-bed. The Hospital requested and was approved to be authorized as a 150-bed capacity, Level 1
hospital, when Congressman Anthony Miranda donated a two-story building in memory of his mother, Rita Miranda, and father, Dodo Miranda, former Mayor of Santiago. In September 2014, through the collaborative efforts of SIGH officials and key personnel
headed by Dr. Jose Ildefonso B. Costales, Jr., Dr. Roselyn L. Dadural, Head of Medical
Division, Ms. Pinera, Head of Nursing Division and Mr. Ronaldo C. Callang,
Head of Administrative Division, crafted the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR) of
the RA No. 8338 and was submitted to the Department of Health. Subsequently, DOH Administrative Order No. 2015 -0018 Re: Implementing Rules and
Regulations of RA No. 8338 was issued, thereby paving the eventual upsizing of the bed
capacity od SIGH to 200- Bed Capacity, Level 2 Hospital. This was made possible through the
sponsorship and persistent initiative of Congressman Giorgidi B. Aggabao. On December 11, 2014, SIGH was certified ISO 9001:2008 for the provision of total hospital
services, and on January 30, 2017, it was awarded ISO 9001:2015 by the Certification
International Philippines (a company of SOCOTEC). On December 20, 2017, SIGH
successfully passed the re-assessment and was recertified ISO 9001:2015. On September 28, 2018, the Hospital was upgraded through RA No. 11082, “An Act
Upgrading the Southern Isabela General Hospital in Santiago City, Province of Isabela into a
Tertiary General Hospital to be known as the Southern Isabela Medical Center and
Appropriating Funds Therefor,” as authored by former Rep. Lourdes “Manay Nettie”
R. The Act mandates SIMC to operate and continuously upgrade to be a fully
operational 350 bed Level 3 Medical Center. In February 2019, the Hospital was able to officially acquire its License to Operate for FY 2019
as a Level 3 – 350 Bed Capacity Hospital. On October 18, 2019, the SIMC successfully passed ISO 9001:2015 re-certification. On
December 11, 2020, it was again recertified ISO 9001:2015 by the NQA. Today, SIMC offers eight (8) major services: Family and Community Medicine, Internal
Medicine, Surgery, OB- Gynecology, Pediatrics, Anesthesia, Surgery, and Pathology; and it
envisioned itself, aside from a training center for medical technologists, nurses, midwives, but
a training hospital for medical doctors.
