New Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service Center to Rise in Bacolod
A P50-million Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service (BUCAS) Plus Center is set to be constructed along San Sebastian Street in Dawis, Bacolod City. Local officials expect the facility to be completed within nine months following the recent signing of a memorandum of agreement on August 12, 2025.
Memorandum Signed to Kickstart Construction
The agreement was formalized by Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya and Dr. Joan Cerrada, chief of Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH), at the Bacolod City Government Center lobby. Witnessing the signing were Bacolod Representative Alfredo Abelardo Benitez and Health Undersecretary Dr. Mary Ann Maestral, community members reported.
Facility to Ease Emergency Room Congestion
Dr. Cerrada shared that the Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service Plus Center will initially offer 15 beds. The center is designed to help decongest the emergency room of CLMMRH by providing an alternative space for urgent and ambulatory care. Furthermore, it will serve as a hub for HIV/AIDS treatment and will offer telemedicine services to reach more patients efficiently.
Origins and Support for the Project
The initiative was started by Rep. Benitez during his tenure as Bacolod mayor. He aimed to improve healthcare access and reduce overcrowding in existing facilities. “We are grateful to Bacolod City for providing the infrastructure, which CLMMRH will operationalize,” Dr. Cerrada noted, emphasizing that 50 to 55 percent of CLMMRH’s patients come from Bacolod City itself.
Department of Health’s Role and Community Involvement
Health Undersecretary Dr. Mary Ann Maestral explained that the Department of Health (DOH) will supply the necessary manpower, medical equipment, and supplies for the center’s operations. She also highlighted the importance of Barangay Health Workers in assisting and guiding patients to the new facility, underscoring a community-driven approach to healthcare delivery.
First of Its Kind in Negros Island Region
Dr. Nikka Hao, DOH director for the Negros Island Region (NIR), revealed that the Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service Plus Center in Bacolod will be the first facility of its kind in the region. It aims to bring surgical and medical procedures closer to the local community, reducing the need for hospital admissions.
Dr. Hao expressed hope that more BUCAS centers will open throughout Bacolod and neighboring areas in the Negros Island Region, expanding access to quality healthcare services.
Legislative Plans to Expand Healthcare Programs Nationwide
Meanwhile, Rep. Benitez announced plans to file a bill to replicate the successful Bacolod Comprehensive Health Program across the country. This legislation aims to ensure that all Filipinos can benefit from improved medical aid and services, community leaders noted.
For more news and updates on healthcare developments, visit Filipinokami.com.
