BANGUED, Abra – Presumptive Gov. Eustaquio ‘Takit’ Bersamin said that he will be doing numerous housekeeping chores in the provincial government upon assumption into office by July 1 but vowed to aggressively work for the significant improvement in the province’s health care and peace and order programs to bring back the vibrance of Abra.
Bersamin, who was overwhelmingly voted by the people of Abra to takeover the province’s leadership for the next three years, said he wants to bring back the status of the Abra Provincial Hospital to a 150-bed capacity and significantly improve the delivery of health care services to the people, especially in the province’s remote areas which was not a priority of the previous administration.
He claimed that when he graduated as the province’s local chief executive in 2016, the Abra Provincial Hospital was a 150-bed capacity health facility but through the years, the status of the health facility was ironically downgraded into a 50-bed capacity aide from the deterioration of the delivery of health care services to the people.
Worst, the 77-year old incoming governor disclosed that the health department even threatened to cancel the license of the health facility which could be detrimental in ensuring the timely delivery of health care services that might impact on the health of the people seeking medical attention from the concerned authorities.
Bersamin added that the provincial government will also work out the improvement of the two district hospitals with the provision of the necessary medical doctors and health care personnel aside from providing the necessary medical supplies to bring to the grassroots level the delivery of quality health care services needed by the people.
Abra’s two district hospitals are situated in La Paz and Villaviciosa towns which were not given priority for the provision of personnel and medical supplies by the previous administration.
On the other hand, he claimed that the provincial government would like to also bring back law and order in the province just like what he was able to do during his three terms as governor from 2007 to 2016 to attract investors to do business in Abra and contribute in its growth and development.
According to him, his administration will closely work with newly elected Abra Rep. Joseph Sto. Nino Bernos to establish factories in the identified economic zone located in the former Cellophil Resources area to help in generating jobs for qualified local residents and spur economic growth in the province.
Bersamin underscored that the reign of law and order in the province will surely create a better business climate that would result to an increase in economic activities and sources of livelihood, especially with the developments that will be introduced in the different potential tourist destinations.
He assured the people of Abra that his administration will be focused in bringing back the glory days of the province to negate the bad image that had tainted the province over the past several years because some families wanted to dominate the politics in the province and perpetuate themselves in power, but the people of Abra overwhelmingly rejected them in the May 12, 2025 mid-term elections where he was able to return to the seat of power in the provincial government. By Dexter A. See
