DEPARTMENT of Health Secretary Teodoro J. Herbosa yesterday led the groundbreaking ceremony for the first Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service (BUCAS) that will be established in Brgy. Francia Sur in Tubao, a fourth-class municipality located in the 2nd District of the province of La Union on April 1, 2024.
The BUCAS Center is Secretary Herbosa’s “28 for 28 by 28” initiative to help fulfill his 8-Point Action Agenda for Health; targeting the establishment of at least 28 BUCAS Centers nationwide to serve the 28 million Filipinos and provide them accessible and quality healthcare services at their convenient time as aligned with the directives of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.
“The centers will serve as primary care facilities in communities that will offer outpatient consultations, laboratory tests, minor surgeries, and emergency care and will bring health care closer to the people,” Herbosa stated.
“The BUCAS center is an intermediate health facility that aims to bridge the gap between barangay health centers and higher-level hospitals by providing urgent health care services and ancillary services like mammogram, MRI, CT scan, and ultrasound to promote the health and well-being of every Filipino towards Bagong Pilipinas, kung saan Bawat Buhay Mahalaga.”
He emphasized the DOH Strategic Focus to Guarantee Access to Quality Ambulatory (Primary) Care Services in all Settings and identified the following priority public health targets: (1) 95% Fully Immunized Children, (2) Decrease Stunting by 1/2 from previous data, (3) Decrease Maternal deaths to <111 per 100,000 live births, (4) Zero TB case mortality rate, (5) Improve Water, Sanitation and Hygiene services, (6) Decrease death rate due to road injuries, (7) HIV prevention and treatment, and Decrease premature deaths due to cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases.”
He also underlined the importance of his 8-Point Action Agenda which include Bawat Pilipino, Ramdam ang Kalusugan; Ligtas, dekalidad, at mapagkalingang serbisyo; Teknolohiya para sa mabilis na serbisyong pangkalusugan; Handa sa Krisis; Pag-iwas sa sakit; Ginhawa sa Isip at Damdamin; Kapakanan at Karapatan ng Health Workers; and, Proteksyon sa anumang pandemya.
Meanwhile, DOH – Ilocos Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco expressed her gratitude to the commitment of the men and women who supported the realization of the BUCAS Center. “Let us look forward to the opening of this center and continue to make a positive impact for the benefit of the people in the community.”
Sydiongco also assured that the regional office will continue to effectively implement programs, projects, and services that promote the health and well-being of every Filipino.
The Tubao BUCAS Center is a project of the Department of Health-CHD Ilocos, Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center, and the Office of the Representative of the 2nd District of La Union Congressman Dante Sotelo Garcia.
Present during the groundbreaking ceremony were Undersecretary Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire, DOH – Ilocos Center for Health Development Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco, Assistant Regional Director Rodolfo Antonio M. Albornoz La Union 2nd District Representative Dante S. Garcia, Ilocos Region Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center Chief Eduardo M. Badua III, and Tubao Mayor Jonalyn G. Fontanilla-Piayas.
