In the 1980s, the first City Health Office of General Santos City was modestly housed on the second floor of the City General Services Office in Rajah Muda, Barangay Bula. This humble location, though far from ideal, marked the beginning of the city’s organized public health services. The early staff fondly referred to it as “Home Along the Riles,” a nickname born from the office’s precarious wooden staircase. Every step produced a loud, creaking sound reminiscent of an aging railway track, prompting both employees and visitors to ascend with care. Despite its dilapidated condition, the office stood as a symbol of dedication and resilience, laying the groundwork for what would eventually be relocated and transformed into a more robust and modern health system for the city.
The first City Health Officer of General Santos City was Dr. Jose Alvarado, Sr., whose pioneering leadership laid the foundation for public health governance in the city. He was succeeded by a number of dedicated professionals who served either as Officers-in-Charge or regular medical officers. Among them were:
Dr. Virginia Ramirez,
Dr. Mely Lastimoso,
Dr. Edgardo Sandig,
Dr. Jacinto Makilang,
Dr. Antoinette Odi,
Mr. Glen Gonzalez,
Dr. Washington Loreno, and
Dr. Rochelle Oco.
In 2022, Dr. Lalaine Calonzo assumed the role of Officer-in-Charge City Health Officer, with Dr. Karl Ivan Daryl Igrobay serving as Assistant City Health Officer.
From its humble beginnings at the General Services Office in Rajah Muda, Barangay Bula, the City Health Office (CHO) underwent several relocations in response to the growing demands of the city’s health sector. It was first transferred to the former General Santos City Emergency Hospital (now the Dr. Jorge P. Royeca City Hospital), then temporarily housed at the NFA Building in 2024, a stopgap solution during a time of the construction of the new CHO building. Eventually, the CHO moved to its permanent site on P. Bugarin Street, Barangay Lagao, now home to the newly established HERO Building (Health Emergency Response Operations)—a significant milestone in the city’s commitment to modernizing public health infrastructure and a testament to decades of resilience, compassion, and the city’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding the health of every ‘Generals’.
In 1939, General Paulino Santos leads the first batch of Christian settlers from Luzon to the shores of Sarangani Bay, then part of the undivided Cotabato Province. The area was known as Dadiangas. In 1947, the area was officially organized as the Municipality of Rajah Buayan through Executive Order No. 82. It was only in 1954 that the Rajah Buayan municipality was renamed as General Santos in honor of General Paulino Santos the pioneering settler and leader, by virtue of Republic Act No. 1107. On July 8, 1968, General Santos was converted into a chartered city through Republic Act No. 5412, signed into law by President Ferdinand Marcos. General Santos City was born.
[Editor’s Note – This is subject for inclusions like dates and landmarks of accomplishments. This is just a start of a more detailed history-taking. Resource persons include Arnel Tomines, Jerry Alvarado, picture is credited to Jose “Jing” Alvarado, Jr.]