PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the government in turning over modern and highly-equipped Bagong Pilipinas mobile clinics to 28 provinces in Mindanao on Friday.
“Tayo po ay naririto, kasama ang Kagawaran ng Kalusugan, upang ibigay ang dalawampu’t walong Bagong Pilipinas Mobile Clinics sa iba’t-ibang probinsya ng Mindanao,” President Marcos said in his speech during the turnover ceremony of Bagong Pilipinas Mobile Clinics at the Manila North Harbor Port in Manila.
These Mobile Primary Care Facilities (MPCFs), or mobile clinics, will provide essential medical assistance and healthcare services to geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) or areas with underserved populations.
“At sa ating mga kababayan sa GIDAs: ito ay para sa inyo; para sa bawat Pilipino, sa bawat barangay, sa bawat isla na nag-aantay ng tulong. Ang kalusugan ay karapatan, hindi pribilehiyo. At sa bawat pag-usad ng mobile clinic, tinitiyak natin dama ito ng bawat Pilipino,” the President said.
The distribution of the mobile clinics is in line with Republic Act No. 11223 or the Health Sector 8-Point Action Agenda and the Philippine Development Plan 2020-2040.
The mobile clinics are expected to improve accessibility to primary care services and help with early diagnosis and management of health conditions. They will also strengthen the local health system and increase healthcare capacity.
The Department of Health (DOH) has procured 83 mobile clinics valued at PhP10 million each, or a total of PhP830 million.
Each mobile clinic contains a standard set of equipment such as an x-ray machine, ultrasound, laboratory equipment, telemedicine kit, generator set, vehicle airbags, and an air conditioning unit.
The mobile clinic vehicles will be distributed to Region IX (Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay); Region X (Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Lanao del Norte); Region XI (Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao del Sur, Davao Occidental, Davao Oriental); and Region XII (North Cotabato, Sarangani, South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat).
The Caraga region, composed of Agusan del Norte, Agusan del Sur, Dinagat Islands, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), including Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, Maguindanao del Sur, Sulu, Tawi-Tawi, will also receive the mobile clinics.
The mobile clinic vehicles will be delivered via a cargo ship and turned over to the provincial LGUs for distribution.
