• THERESA MAE DULMAN
A ceremonial signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Bacolod City Government and Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH), yesterday, officially marked the start of a P50 million health facility project.
The MOA aims to establish the Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service (BUCAS) Plus Center in Barangay 14, that will help decongest the CLMMRH by providing an intermediary healthcare hub.
“For years, Corazon Locsin have been tending to the Bacolod residence, however, with the population growth, it is evident that the hospital can no longer attend to, as much as we can, the best way we can,” said CLMMRH Medical Center Chief II Dr. Joan Cerrada.
Present during the MOA signing at the Bacolod City Government Center were Mayor Greg Gasataya, Bacolod Lone District Rep. Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Mary Ann Maestral, NIR Health Development Regional Director Razel Nikka Hao, and Vice Mayor Claudio Puentevella, city councilors, and barangay health workers.
Maestral said the DOH will provide manpower, equipment, and supplies to the soon to rise, first-ever BUCAS Plus Center in the Negros Island Region.
As of now, there are 53 BUCAS Centers in the country, according to DOH.
On the other hand, Benitez announced during the ceremony that he will file a bill making the Bacolod Comprehensive Health Program (BacCHP) available nationwide.*
