PHP10-Million Super Health Center to Serve Eight Villages in Bani, Pangasinan

 MALASIQUI, Pangasinan – Residents from eight remote villages in the municipality of Bani will benefit from the construction of a PHP10-million super health center set to begin in January in Barangay Arwas, according to the town’s municipal health officer.

Dr. Ariel Estrada, in a recent phone interview, detailed that the super health center aims to offer essential healthcare services and can also handle patients requiring minor surgical procedures.

"The super health facility is more comprehencive as it encompasses an outpatient clinic and consultation, pharmacy and dispensary, primary clinical laboratory, clinical microscopy, microbiology/parasitology, radiology, birthing and lying-in, tuberculosis consultation with direct sputum smear processing, and microscopy capability," he explained.

Located about three kilometers away from the town proper, the facility is funded under the Health Facilities Enhancement Program in the General Appropriations Act of 2023. The project's groundbreaking took place on Dec. 21, and upon completion, it will be the third health facility in the town, complementing the existing ones in Barangays Poblacion and San Jose.

"The super health centers situated in rural areas aim to primarily decongest our public hospitals by providing services for primary healthcare cases, which are low-risk, less serious, or uncomplicated cases," stated Department of Health-Ilocos Region director Paula Paz Sydiongco in a Thursday statement.

Sydiongco emphasized that their construction is essential to ensure that health services are accessible to every Filipino, including those in remote areas.