THE Department of Health (DOH) – Ilocos Region together with Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center (MMMHMC), and the Local Government of Banna officially inaugurated the new Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service (BUCAS) Center Building on July 17, 2026, expanding access to quality healthcare for Ilocanos.
The new MMMHMC-Banna BUCAS Center reinforces the government’s commitment to deliver essential health services closer to where people live, ensuring that residents of Banna and neighboring communities including the municipalities of Dingras, Marcos, Solsona, Nueva Era, Carasi and Piddig will receive timely urgent care and outpatient services without the burden of traveling to Batac City.
The facility was funded under the 2025 GAA with an allocation of P20 million for infrastructure and P30 million for medical equipment and was completed on July 8, 2026.
Regional Director Helen D. Tobias stated that the Banna BUCAS Center is a commitment to bring timely, quality, and compassionate healthcare closer to residents of communities. “Expanding ambulatory and urgent care services strengthens the entire healthcare system by ensuring patients receive appropriate care at the right level while allowing hospitals to focus on more specialized cases.”
She likewise recognized the importance of sustained collaboration among national government agencies, healthcare institutions, and local government units in improving healthcare delivery.
“Achieving Universal Health Care requires strong partnerships. Today’s milestone reflects what can be accomplished when the Department of Health, our government hospitals, and local governments work together with one shared purpose—to ensure that no Ilokano is left behind in accessing quality healthcare.”
MMMHMC Medical Center Chief II Maria Lourdes K. Otayza on her part described the new facility as an important extension of the hospital’s mission to deliver quality healthcare beyond its main campus.
The center has already become an essential healthcare access point for residents, as reflected in the thousands of patients served during its first year of operations. “Serving more than 7,000 patients since its soft opening on March 14, 2024, demonstrates that accessible healthcare saves lives, reduces financial burden on families, and promotes earlier consultation and treatment.”
As DOH continues to strengthen local health systems and expand healthcare infrastructure across the region, the new BUCAS Center in Banna stands as a testament to the government’s unwavering commitment to ensuring that every Filipino can access safe, quality, affordable, and people-centered healthcare—closer to home.
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