PILAR, Abra(PIA) -- Six barangay health station projects in this town are nearing completion, and expected to open soon to provide  quality and inclusive health services to the residents.

These health stations are priority projects of the National Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (NTF-ELCAC) funded through the Support to Barangay Development Program (SBDP).

 Engineer Jonel Medina of the Department of the Interior and Local Government explained that the health stations have different amounts of funding  ranging from P4 million to P6 million, depending on the detailed engineering design and program of work. He said is  he closely coordinating  with the project contractor to record the completion progress.

"The health stations will be equipped with consultation rooms, pre-natal or infant exam room, water tanks, records room, health workers' room, and is also built with stone masonry," Medina said.

As of February 20, 2024 the completion percentage are as follows:

1. Brgy. Bolbolo Health Station - 88.94 percent;  2. Brgy. Dintan Health Station - 64.61%; 3. Brgy. Villavieja Health Station - 62.99%;

4. Brgy. Pang-ot Health Station - 52.50 %,5. Brgy. Tikitik Health Station - 100%; and 6. Brgy. Nanangduan Health Station - 90.13%.

Recently, joint monitoring and inspection teams of  the National, Regional and Provincial TF-ELCAC visited these projects to ensure proper implementation.

Nanangduan Punong Barangay Cristy Ann Gayao said health services is one of the primary needs of residents most especially that they are far from the rural health unit.

“Kas mangidadaulo ti Barangay Nanangduan, dakkel a tulong kadakami ti pannakapatakder ti health station gapuenta adayo kami ti ili mi a Pilar. Daytoy ti maysa nga kangrunaan tapnu nadar-daras mayted ti kasapulan ti salun-at,” she said in an interview.

[This health station is a huge help since we are far  from the center of Pilar town. This is one of primary needs to address  the health needs of the residents.]

“Agyaman kami unay daytoy nga proyekto ta naikkan kami ti napintas nga health station, ket sapay kuma ta nu malpas ton, maaddaan kaminton ti kompleto nga musar tapnu mayted ti pudno a serbisyo kadagiti bumaranggay,”  Gayao added.

[We thank you for this project because we are given a health station, and hopefully after its completion, equipments will be made available to deliver a quality health service for barangay residents].

During the conference with Pilar Mayor Tyron Beroña after the inspection, it  was discussed that development plans for the health stations  include the augmentation of health workers or nurses from the  Department of Health, and additional funding for facilities.(JDP/CAGT – PIA CAR, Abra)