SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union, Feb. 16 (PIA) – Manaog residents celebrated on Thursday as the Department of Health (DOH) in the Ilocos Region officially inaugurated the new Super Health Center in Barangay Cabanbanan.
 
Construction began in February 2023, funded by a P10 million grant from the DOH's Health Facility Enhancement Project.
 
The completed facility, delivered on schedule in early February 2024, promises improved healthcare access for the community.
 
In a statement, DOH-Region 1 Assistant Regional Director Rodolfo Antonio Albornoz, who led the inauguration and blessing, said that barangay residents, including nearby communities, can now avail of primary care services.
 
“Ang mga pasilidad po na ito ay isa sa mga priority infrastructure projects na nasa 8-point action agenda ng DOH upang mabigyan ng serbisyong pangkalusugan ang ating mga kababayan na nasa malalayong lugar gaya ng mga nakatira sa mga Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs),” said Albornoz.
 
(These facilities are one of the priority infrastructure projects in the DOH's 8-point action agenda to provide health services to our citizens in remote areas such as those living in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas.)
 
“The Super Health Centers are established in rural areas to decongest our public hospitals which are primarily located in towns and cities. Ang mga low-risk, less serious at mga uncomplicated cases ay dito na dadalhin at pupunta upang magpagamot,” Albnornoz emphasized.
 
(Low-risk, less serious and uncomplicated cases will be brought here to be treated.)
 
Under Phase 1, a Super Health Center can provide primary care services such as cancer screenings, cardiovascular health screenings, diabetes screenings, consultation and medication prescriptions, immunizations, minor surgical procedures, and birth control services including ultrasounds.
 
For Phase 2, diagnostic services and care will be available such as radiology, ultrasound, and laboratory tests.
 
Manaoag Mayor Jeremy Agerico Rosario said that the facility is a realization of his administration’s goal.
 
“Health has always been our priority and with this Super Health Center we can serve more people in our community,” he said.
 
Rosario also assured that services of the Rural Health Center in the town will continue to provide health services for the accessibility of patients and to complement the services of the Super Health Center. (JCR/AMB/PIA Region 1)