Balamban, Cebu — The Cebu Provincial Government is gearing up for the third leg of its ongoing medical and surgical missions, with preparations in full swing for the activity scheduled on August 23–24 at the Cebu Provincial Hospital in Balamban.
The initiative forms part of the Capitol’s larger health reform agenda under People’s Governor Pamela S. Baricuatro, which seeks to make accessible, quality, and free healthcare services available to every Cebuano, especially those in grassroots and remote areas.
Coordination Meeting Sets the Stage
In a coordination meeting earlier this week, Piso Capitol Health Consultant Dr. Nikki Catalan led discussions with participating groups to finalize preparations.
Key topics included:
- Logistics and transportation for medical teams and equipment.
- Accommodation and food arrangements for health workers and volunteers.
- Security measures to ensure the safety of patients and staff.
- Hospital readiness, including machinery checks, medical supplies, and operating room setup.
“We want to make sure everything runs smoothly. These missions are more than just one-time events — they are steps toward lasting reform in how healthcare is delivered to our people,” Dr. Catalan said.
Partners in Service
Dr. Catalan expressed gratitude to the organizations and institutions collaborating with Capitol for the Balamban mission, among them:
- All-Terrain Medical Relief Organization (AMRO)
- Perpetual Succour Hospital
- Cebu Velez General Hospital
- Cebu Medical Society
- Visayas MED
She also thanked the local government of Balamban, led by Mayor Amus Cabahug and Provincial Board Member Lorenz Lagon, for extending full support.
Building on Earlier Missions
The Balamban leg follows successful missions conducted at the Cebu Provincial Hospital in Danao City and other provincial sites earlier this year. In those missions, thousands of patients received:
- Free consultations and diagnostic services
- Minor and major surgical procedures
- Specialized care from volunteer doctors and nurses
- Medicines and post-surgical care kits
Feedback from beneficiaries has been overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing gratitude for access to healthcare that would otherwise have been financially out of reach.
Healthcare as a Cornerstone of Governance
The Capitol’s series of medical and surgical missions reflect Gov. Baricuatro’s campaign promise of prioritizing healthcare and social services. Her administration’s agenda goes beyond infrastructure development, recognizing that the welfare of Cebu’s people is a fundamental measure of progress.
Gov. Baricuatro has consistently emphasized that healthcare must be equitable and community-centered, noting that many Cebuanos, particularly in far-flung towns, remain underserved.
This perspective echoes the national Universal Health Care Law, which guarantees that all Filipinos should have access to quality and affordable health services without financial burden (PhilHealth). Cebu’s localized rollout of free missions complements these national reforms.
Why Balamban Matters
Balamban, located on Cebu’s western seaboard, is an industrial hub hosting shipbuilding and manufacturing industries, but it also has remote mountain barangays where healthcare services are harder to access.
The Cebu Provincial Hospital in Balamban is a critical lifeline for nearby communities. By hosting this medical-surgical mission, Capitol hopes to bridge healthcare gaps in the area and relieve pressure on already stretched hospital staff.
The activity is expected to attract patients not only from Balamban but also from neighboring towns such as Asturias, Toledo, and Pinamungajan.
Logistical and Medical Preparations
Preparing for a mission of this scale requires careful coordination:
- Transport fleets have been arranged to ferry patients from remote barangays.
- Mobile diagnostic units will supplement hospital facilities.
- Volunteer specialists — from surgeons to anesthesiologists — will join local hospital teams.
- Pharmaceutical partners have pledged medicine supplies for post-treatment recovery.
By addressing these logistical and medical needs, the Capitol aims to avoid the bottlenecks that often hinder similar large-scale healthcare activities.
Strengthening Partnerships for Sustainability
While the missions are headline events, the Capitol is also working to institutionalize partnerships with hospitals, universities, and civic organizations. Nursing schools, for example, are being tapped to send interns to provincial hospitals — a move that not only supplements manpower but also provides students with valuable experience.
This collaborative model ensures that the missions are not isolated events but part of a long-term strategy to strengthen Cebu’s healthcare system.
The Role of Local Government Units
Gov. Baricuatro has stressed that the success of Capitol’s health initiatives depends heavily on active participation from local government units (LGUs).
Mayor Cabahug and Board Member Lagon’s involvement demonstrates how local leaders can help mobilize communities, provide logistical support, and ensure that beneficiaries are properly identified and prioritized.
This reflects the principle of shared responsibility in governance, where provincial and municipal governments work hand-in-hand to deliver public services.
Challenges Ahead
Despite the optimism, the Capitol acknowledges that sustaining these missions presents challenges:
- Manpower shortages in rural hospitals.
- Budgetary limitations amid competing development needs.
- Geographic barriers that make reaching island and upland barangays difficult.
Addressing these hurdles requires innovative approaches, such as mobile clinics, stronger referral systems, and continuous collaboration with private health institutions.
Looking Forward
For Dr. Catalan and her team, the Balamban mission represents not only a service activity but also a learning opportunity. Each leg of the mission generates insights on patient needs, logistical challenges, and operational improvements that will shape future rollouts.
Gov. Baricuatro has vowed that such initiatives will remain a cornerstone of her administration, ensuring that the right to health is upheld as a basic service, not a privilege.
Conclusion
The upcoming Balamban medical-surgical mission demonstrates Cebu Capitol’s determination to bring accessible and free healthcare services to its people. Backed by partnerships with hospitals, medical organizations, and local governments, the two-day mission is more than an event — it is a building block in the province’s healthcare reform journey.
As Cebu moves forward under Gov. Pamela Baricuatro, programs like these underscore a simple yet powerful message: healthcare should be available to all, regardless of geography, income, or background.
