Tubao: The Department of Health's Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service (BUCAS) center in Tubao, La Union, has reported serving 123,252 patients from June 2024 to May 2026. This milestone highlights the center's role in providing essential health services to the local community.

According to Philippines News Agency, BUCAS centers offer outpatient consultations, diagnostic services, laboratory examinations, and pharmacy services, effectively addressing common health concerns. "For two years, it has provided quality, accessible, and compassionate care to thousands of patients, proving that no Filipino should be left behind when it comes to health services," stated DOH Ilocos Region director Paula Paz Sydiongco.

The Tubao facility is the second BUCAS center in the Ilocos Region, with another center located in Banna, Ilocos Norte. Sydiongco emphasized the center's importance in addressing community-level health needs by integrating care, prevention, promotion, and education. The center serves as an intermediary between primary care physicians and hospital emergency departments.

By reducing congestion in emergency rooms, the BUCAS center allows hospitals to focus more on critical cases. "Primary health care facilities in the region will continue to be strengthened to ensure equity and access to health care services to achieve universal health coverage," Sydiongco added.