COTABATO CITY, December 12, 2024 – The Bangsamoro Parliament has approved the establishment of four new hospitals across three provinces in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The landmark decision, announced by BARMM Health Minister and Member of Parliament Dr. Kadil Jojo M. Sinolinding, Jr., aims to significantly improve access to healthcare services, particularly in remote and underserved areas.

“This is a hallmark legislation,” Minister Sinolinding said, emphasizing the importance of the approved bills that will pave the way for the construction of the following hospitals South Ubian General Hospital in Tawi-Tawi, Aleem Abdulaziz Mimbantas Memorial Hospital in Lanao del Sur, Northern Kabuntalan General Hospital in Maguindanao del Norte, Datu Blah Sinsuat General Hospital in Maguindanao del Norte.

Each facility is set to receive a ₱50 million budget for construction, which is scheduled to begin next year.

The new hospitals are part of the region’s commitment to addressing the growing demand for medical services in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA). The initiative aligns with Chief Minister Ahod Balawag Ebrahim’s vision that “no one shall be left untreated.”

“Healthcare services, consistent with the mantra of the Bagong Pilipinas, are now closer to the people,” Minister Sinolinding stated.

As a public health advocate and ophthalmologist, Sinolinding emphasized that the new healthcare facilities will bring critical medical services to even the most remote communities, ensuring equitable access to quality care for all residents of BARMM.

This development marks another significant step toward achieving the region’s goals for a resilient, inclusive, and people-centered healthcare system.

(Photo courtesy of Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament)