by Christopher Hedreyda
BAY, Laguna – The establishment of additional urgent health service centers nationwide continues as the provincial government of Laguna formally breaks ground for the Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Services (BUCAS) Center in Brgy. Puypuy, Bay, Laguna on June 20, Friday.
The proposed BUCAS Center in Laguna is integrated within the
Laguna Regional Hospital Complex. Once completed, it is aimed to decongest the nine district hospitals of the province and to widen the coverage of state-provided healthcare throughout Laguna.
The groundbreaking ceremony was led by Governor Ramil Hernandez, Laguna 2nd District Rep. Ruth Mariano-Hernandez, and Department of Health Undersecretary Dr. Mary Ann P. Maestral, and was witnessed by the members and officers of Laguna Medical Society, local chief executives, and other provincial government officials.
Usec. Maestral touts the BUCAS Centers as one of the answers in improving the accessibility of the public health services in the country. It serves as the first point of contact of the public in times of medical need and crucial in decongesting public hospitals, particularly for out-patient services.
“This reflects our shared vision under the Bagong Pilipinas health facility enhancement program to build more responsive, efficient, and compassionate health facilities that can meet the evolving needs of our people,”
Maestral assures patients that healthcare service in BUCAS centers will continue to be accessible, following the directive of DOH Secretary Dr. Teodoro Herbosa who said ‘healthcare must be proactive, pro-centered, and present’.
“For Laguna and its neighboring communities, this facility is more than just a building. It is a promise that when someone falls ill and needs care, help is not far. A promise that government will continue investing in the health and dignity of every Filipino,” the Health undersecretary adds.
Rep. Mariano-Hernandez, who principally authored the Republic Act 12071 or the establishment of the Level III DOH-run hospital in Laguna, said that the BUCAS center and the LRH will directly address the healthcare needs of more than 2 million Lagunenses.
She acknowledged that some patients still need to travel outside the province to have access to specialty centers or for bigger hospitals for additional health services.
“We have 9 district hospitals, categorized as level 1 and level 2. We know that their bed capacity is limited, as well as the medical cases they can handle. That’s the reason why LRH and BUCAS were pushed forward — to strengthen the healthcare system of the province, decongest our district hospitals, and have an additional major hospital,” the lawmaker said. Cavite 2nd District Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla also attended the program as the guest of honor and representative of Senator Ramon Bong Revilla, who backed the establishment of the LRH and BUCAS Center and has secured the initial Php100 million funding for the center.
The Laguna solon estimates that the BUCAS Center will be operational by 2028, if the measure will continue to receive appropriations support from fellow lawmakers.
The BUCAS centers are being established and operated by the DOH to address the ambulatory medical and surgical care needs of Filipinos.
Apart from offering orthopedic and general surgery procedures, the BUCAS center will also offer out-patient services, reproductive health services, geriatric services, laboratory services with comprehensive diagnostic capabilities. (PIA-Laguna)
