• THERESA MAE DULMAN
The SM Foundation Inc. (SMFI) officially turned over the newly renovated and refurbished Mabini and ETCS Barangay Health Centers to the Bacolod City Government yesterday, March 26.
Mayor Greg Gasataya said the renovation of the centers is intended to improve the delivery of primary medical services to residents across 15 different barangays.
The Mabini Barangay Health Center, is designated to serve Barangays 22, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 37, and 38.
Meanwhile, the ETCS Barangay Health Center, located in Barangay 16, will cater to the populations of Barangays 13, 14, 15, 16, 34, 35, and 36.
The child-friendly facility is complete with a treatment room, pharmacy, consultation room, and all necessary equipment.
SMFI Health and Medical Program Executive Director Connie Angeles said that the foundation will continue to provide maintenance and upkeep to the health centers.
Under the established agreement, the city government of Bacolod will manage the daily operations and staffing of the health stations.
Gasataya said that while the potential for additional health station renovations in other barangays was mentioned, any future projects remain subject to the plans and resources of the SM Foundation.
These facilities represent the 227th and 228th health stations completed by the foundation across the Philippines as part of its social medical infrastructure program.*TMD
MAYOR’S MESSAGE
Gasataya expressed his gratitude to SM Foundation Incorporated for its partnership in upgrading the Mabini and ETCS Health Stations, which will cater to 15 barangays in the city, a press release from the Bacolod City Communications Group said.
During the turnover ceremony, Gasataya stressed that the renovation will have a greater impact by improving health services, as he shared the local government’s commitment to expanding healthcare access for Bacolodnons.
“This goes beyond a simple partnership; it is more personal because you are assisting the people of Bacolod City in one of their most important needs, and that is our health,” the mayor said, assuring that the facility will be well taken care of in coordination with the City Health Office.
The mayor also noted that the ETCS Health Station is located near the proposed site for the Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service (BUCAS) Center and other health centers that the city plans to construct in the next quarter, which will further improve the city’s health program.
“Health services are a core program of the city,” the mayor added.
Connie Angeles, SMFI executive director for Health and Medical Programs, said that the newly upgraded health stations are part of SM Foundation’s growing network of community health facilities, which are expected to serve nearly 27,000 residents across multiple urban barangays. To date, the foundation has renovated 228 health centers nationwide.
Both stations operate within the network of about 30 Barangay Health Stations under the Bacolod City Health Office, delivering frontline services that include consultations, maternal and child care, immunizations, and treatment for minor illnesses. These facilities serve as the first point of contact for patients, bringing healthcare closer to communities.
“With the support of SM Foundation, and by enhancing these community-based facilities, we continue to help ensure that quality healthcare remains accessible, affordable, and responsive to the needs of Filipino families,” Angeles added.
City Health Officer Dr. Carmela Gensoli emphasized that the health facility upgrade is a testament to a strong public-private partnership.
“Your generosity provides more than just medicines and equipment; it provides dignity and hope to every patient who walks through these corridors,” said Gensoli, who also felt honored as the ceremonial turnover of the health stations coincided with her birthday.
Both Bacolod facilities underwent renovations designed to improve service delivery and patient experience. Interior upgrades include new LED lighting, modern appliances, and more comfortable, patient-centered furnishings. Layout improvements were also introduced to support more efficient consultations and better patient flow.
The improved environment strengthens the role of healthcare workers in promoting disease prevention and health education while building greater trust within the community. The upgrades also support expanded participation in PhilHealth’s Yaman Ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP), particularly by enabling better use of electronic medical record enrollments.*
