THE Amai Pakpak Medical Center (APMC), in partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) and the Marawi City Government, has inaugurated the 'Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Services (BUCAS) Center' in Barangay Tolali, marking a new step in expanding healthcare access in Lanao del Sur.
The facility, temporarily housed at the Marawi General Hospital compound, aims to provide outpatient and non-emergency services to help decongest APMC and make healthcare more accessible to residents of Marawi and nearby towns.
APMC Center Chief Dr. Shalimar Rakiin described the BUCAS Center as a ‘brainchild project’ of the DOH Secretary, who initiated the proposal shortly after assuming office.
“BUCAS means Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Services. It caters only to outpatients-non-emergency cases like minor surgeries, consultations, and laboratory tests,” Rakiin said.
Rakiin added: “Kapag emergency cases, dinadala agad sa ospital. Our goal is to decongest APMC, which currently handles 200 to 300 outpatient cases daily.”
The Marawi BUCAS Center is the first of its kind in Lanao del Sur. It currently operates from 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. Medications are provided free of charge, with costs covered through the Malasakit Program and PhilHealth.
“We have invested around P2 million to P3 million for equipment preparation. The goal is to make the facility fully operational soon,” Dr. Rakiin said.
Marawi City Vice Mayor Majul U. Gandamra expressed gratitude for the DOH and APMC’s efforts, calling it a “timely and significant development” for the city.
Gandamra emphasized that the new center symbolizes a shared commitment toward providing accessible and quality healthcare for every Maranao.
“The opening of the BUCAS Center is very timely and significant. It represents our continuous effort to rebuild and recover as one community,” he said.
He also acknowledged the generous donation of part of the 6,000-square-meter property where the facility stands, made possible through his wife’s family.
“Nais ko ring pasalamatan ang aking mga in-laws, dahil partly, itong kinatitirikan ng hospital na ito, was donated partly meron na binayad na konti, way below the market price na pamili sa mga lupain ngayon. On behalf of the local government of the City of Marawi, would like to extend our gratitude to the family of my wife for this nible gesture,” Gandamra said.
Gandamra assured the public that the local government unit has allocated P200 million from its Internal Revenue Allotment this year to support the hospital's eventual full operation once it is officially turned over to the city.
Presidential Adviser for Marawi Rehabilitation and Development Secretary Nasser Pangandaman and Undersecretary of Health Dr. Gregorio T. Murillo Jr. joined the launching and ribbon-cutting ceremony.
