Abalos pushes for ‘super health centers’ to expand access to healthcare
Benhur Abalos with Quirino Gov. Dax Cua during the launching of Quirino Motorismo 2025.
MANILA, Philippines – Former Interior Secretary and senatorial candidate Benhur Abalos Jr. is pushing for the nationwide establishment of Super Health Centers to improve access to medical services, particularly in remote and underserved areas.
Speaking on the sidelines of the Alyansa Para sa Bagong Pilipinas rally in Tacloban City, Abalos stressed there should be a systematic inventory of hospitals across the country to determine which facilities are being efficiently managed by provincial governments and which should be supported or taken over by the national government.
“Hospitals should be inventoried. How many are managed by provincial governments? What is their status? If they are struggling, the national government must step in,” he said.
“May mga probinsya na may ospital pero walang doktor at kagamitan. May mga lugar naman na talagang walang ospital,” Abalos said, noting that this is a consequence of the Local Government Code of 1991 (RA 7160), which devolved the management of secondary and tertiary hospitals to local government units (LGUs), making them responsible for funding and operating these facilities.
“Hindi lahat ng probinsya ay may sapat na pondo para suportahan ang kanilang mga ospital,” Abalos said, emphasizing his advocacy to amend the Local Government Code of 1991 to address these gaps in healthcare funding and management, among other issues that hinder the delivery of critical medical and social services.
Drawing from his experience as mayor of Mandaluyong City, Abalos proposed expanding Super Health Centers, which are upgraded barangay health stations equipped with emergency services and diagnostic tools, to decongest major hospitals.
These facilities, he said, are designed as enhanced barangay health stations equipped with emergency services, X-ray machines, and diagnostic tools to ease congestion in larger hospitals.
“This is something we implemented in Mandaluyong—Super Health Centers that handle minor cases so that hospitals can focus on severe conditions,” he explained.
Given the country’s geography, he suggested strategically locating these centers to improve accessibility for communities far from major hospitals.
“If Super Health Centers function properly, hospitals won’t be overcrowded, and more lives can be saved,” he added
“Kung maayos ang Super Health Centers, hindi na kailangang dumagsa ang pasyente sa mga ospital. Mas maluwag ang sistema, mas maraming buhay ang maliligtas,” Abalos said.
Abalos who visited Quirino province yesterday also underscored the role of PhilHealth in supporting local government units (LGUs) by subsidizing medical expenses. But he noted that preventive care, rather than treatment, should be the priority.
“PhilHealth is crucial because it reimburses LGUs. But what is even more important is prevention—an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure,” he added, pointing to the state insurer’s lesser-known Konsulta Program, which provides free annual check-ups, diagnostic services, and maintenance medication.
“People should be aware of this,” Abalos said. “A lot of lives can be saved through early detection and preventive care.” – END
