New health hub seen to improve gov’t healthcare services in remote Sorsogon town

By Benilda Recebido

MAGALLANES, Sorsogon --- Healthcare access is expected to improve significantly for over 13,500 residents in the southern coastal areas of Magallanes, with the groundbreaking for the new Rural Health Unit 2 (RHU 2) in Barangay Siuton.

The ceremony, led by Assistant Secretary Rea Uy Epistola of the Office of the Executive Secretary, assured the public that this additional healthcare facility will serve thousands of residents of Magallanes town.

This infrastructure project, funded by the national government’s Socio-Civic Projects Fund (SCPF) and the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF), aims to alleviate the logistical and financial burdens long faced by isolated coastal communities.

Assistant Secretary Epistola highlighted how the RHU 2 project exemplifies the wise use of national government resources on concrete local solutions through the LGSF. The initiative has a budget of P5 million for construction and an additional P5 million for medical equipment.

For decades, residents from 10 southern barangays, including Biton, Busay, Caditaan, Ginangra, Lapinig, Malbog, Pawik, Salvacion, Tula-Tula Sur, and Siuton, had to travel up to nine kilometers to reach the existing rural health center (RHU 1) located in the town’s Barangay Poblacion.

Siuton Punong Barangay Rodel Vergara noted that with RHU 1 operating at near-full capacity, southern residents frequently encountered congested waiting rooms after enduring costly and exhausting commutes.

“RHU 2 will be strategically located eight to nine kilometers from the center, bridging geographical distances, shortening travel times, and reducing transportation expenses for the residents of Magallanes,” Vergara said.

By decentralizing healthcare, the satellite facility will bring immediate relief to household budgets, ensuring that families do not have to choose between paying for a tricycle fare and seeking medical attention.

To ensure the facility is operational as soon as it is completed, the national government is matching the P5 million construction budget with an additional P5 million strictly allocated for medical equipment.

Rooted in the principles of the Universal Health Care Act, the RHU 2 will operate as a fully equipped medical hub.

According to Vergara, the RHU 2 is designed to deliver a comprehensive range of primary care services directly to the community, including outpatient consultations, laboratory checkups, maternal and child healthcare services, routine and critical vaccinations, and the free distribution of essential medicines.

While the facility will be more accessible to southern residents, local officials emphasize that its true impact lies in protecting the community’s most vulnerable sectors.

Pregnant women will no longer have to travel long distances on rough roads for prenatal checkups, and senior citizens, persons with disabilities, and low-income families will receive priority access to localized care.

“For the seaside barangays of Magallanes, such as Siuton, the construction of RHU 2 represents more than just a new building—it signifies that lifesaving medical care is finally within our reach,” said Vergara.

The RHU 2 project underscores a broader shift toward proactive, long-term community development under President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s “Bawat Bayan Makikinabang” initiative.

“By shifting the focus from centralized institutional care to accessible, barangay-level infrastructure, this project ensures that national public funds are translated into tangible health security,” said Uy-Epistola. (PIA Bicol/Sorsogon)

BRINGING HEALTHCARE CLOSER: Local officials lead the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Magallanes Rural Health Unit (RHU) 2 in Brgy. Siuton, Magallanes, Sorsogon. Rooted in the Universal Health Care Act, this new satellite facility will provide essential medical services directly to over 13,500 residents across 10 southern barangays. (Photo: PIA Sorsogon)