SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) -- The first Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service (BUCAS) center in Region 1 will open in La Union later this year, the Department of Health (DOH)-Region 1 confirms.
 
The center will be used to provide ambulatory services and urgent care to disadvantaged and vulnerable families and individuals in the province. 
 
Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa and La Union 2nd District Rep. Dante Garcia led the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the center on April 1 at Barangay Francia Sur, Tubao, La Union and it comes after the opening of the country's first BUCAS Center in Pampanga on March 6.

Garcia said that the center’s location in Tubao is strategic given its location in the middle of the second district of La Union, helping indigent patients close to its proximity with medical assistance. 
 
"Here [Tubao] is the center of the second district when you look at it strategically from Bauang to Rosario… that's why I was interested in building it here," Garcia said. 
 
The construction of the building will be shouldered by Garcia while the lot is secured with the assistance and cooperation of the local government of Tubao headed by Mayor Jonalyn Fontanilla-Piayas.
 
Garcia also vowed to expedite the construction of the center to meet the medical needs of indigent patients in the province, especially those residing near the center's location.
 

Herbosa, meanwhile, said that the construction of the center in Tubao forms part of the health department’s goal of opening at least 28 primary care centers throughout the country to cater to the health needs of about 28 million poor Filipinos.
 
Herbosa further mentioned that the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center (ITRMC) will spearhead the management of the center, overseeing the deployment of necessary personnel and funds to ensure its full operationalization.
 
"ITRMC will place the personnel and the funds we use for indigent patients at ITRMC [will be utilized] for this," Herbosa said. 
 
Once the center opens and becomes fully operational, it shall provide comprehensive diagnostic services, including services in dentistry, pediatrics, orthopedics, and ophthalmology. 
 
Mayor Fontanilla-Piayas emphasized that the construction of the center realizes a longtime dream for more efficient and accessible healthcare services for every underserved patient in the town and neighboring municipalities.
 
“This BUCAS Center represents more than just bricks and mortar. It signifies our commitment to the health and well-being of every resident. It represents faster response time, advanced care, and peace of mind, knowing help is really available,” Fontanilla-Piayas said. (JCR/MJTAB/CCMT, PIA La Union)