STO. TOMAS, Pampanga – Republic of Korea Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Sang-Hwa expressed his gratitude to the Pampanga government for their support to the Korean community in the province during his visit to the country’s first Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Service (BUCAS) Center here.
Ambassador Lee was accompanied by Vice Governor Lilia “Nanay” Pineda, 4th District Congresswoman Anna York Bondoc-Sagum, Sto. Tomas Mayor John Sambo, Department of Health (DOH) 3 Regional Director Corazon Flores, and Jose B. Lingad Memorial General Hospital (JBLMGH) Medical Chief Monserrat Chichioco during the ocular visit on Wednesday, June 26.
The visit aimed to evaluate the center’s operations and explore how the South Korean government can further enhance medical services in the province.
Ambassador Lee thanked Vice Governor Pineda for the significant support provided by the Provincial Government of Pampanga to over 10,000 Koreans residing in the province’s Korean Community.
“The Central Luzon, particularly the province of Pampanga, has become the home of at least 10,000 korean communities. They are living harmoniously with the local population. It’s a good way of giving back to the Filipino friends. That is the driving force to strongly recommend them to see the BUCAS facility here,” he said.
The Vice Governor meanwhile disclosed the plan of the provincial government to open another BUCAS facility near Capitol to decongest the number of patients flocking into JBLMGH.
“Meron kaming isang BUCAS center na gagawin ni Gov Delta sa likod ng Capitol. Kasi nakita namin yung mga taga Sta. Lucia, San Fernando at mga malapit sa likod ng Capitol dito pa sila pumupunta. Meron naman kaming malaking building doon bubuksan namin sa mga gustong magpacheck-up,” she added.
To date, there are a total of 17 BUCAS Centers established around the country to bring Level 3 hospital services closer to communities.