TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Residents of Barangay Magnao, Tabuk City, now have access to a newly built Barangay Health Center featuring a dedicated lying-in facility that can accommodate two pregnant women. The center will also function as an outpatient clinic, addressing the healthcare needs of the community.
The construction of this modern health facility was made possible through funding from the Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan (KALAHI) Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) program under the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Cycle II.
Built at an approximate cost of ₱2.2 million, the health center stands on a 320-square-meter lot acquired and officially turned over by the city giving to Barangay Magnao officials.
In his acceptance message, Barangay Chairperson Tubban expressed heartfelt gratitude for the new facility, describing it as a breakthrough for the community. He emphasized how the health center would alleviate the burden of residents who previously had to travel long distances to the city center for medical consultations. Tubban also highlighted the inadequacies of their former health center, which was too small and inaccessible, and how the new facility marks a significant improvement in the barangay’s healthcare services.
City Planning and Development Officer Maricel Kiley, who attended the inauguration, commended the initiative and the collective efforts of those who contributed to the project’s success. She acknowledged the challenges faced by Barangay Magnao, one of the geographically isolated communities in the city, and reflected on the barangay’s transformation from a former insurgent-affected zone to its present state.
Kiley noted that the construction of an all-weather road had been instrumental in paving the way for developments such as the new health center. She expressed optimism about future projects that could further uplift the community.
Napoleon Ayang-Ang, representing City Mayor Darwin Estrañero, also encouraged barangay officials and residents to consider applying for the modification of their Certificate of Ancestral Domain Title (CADT). He explained that such a move could facilitate individual land titling and attract developers or investors to the area, potentially boosting the barangay’s economic prospects. Ayang-Ang clarified that the current CADT awarded to Barangays Magnao, Guilayon, and Nambucayan could impact future investment plans, as developers must comply with requirements such as the free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) process.
Under the KALAHI-CIDSS-PAMANA program, Magnao is one of 22 barangays in the city selected as beneficiaries of a three-cycle project initiative by the DSWD Cordillera Office.
In the first cycle, Magnao successfully implemented a community waterworks system with fund allocation of ₱1.2 million. After the completion of the health center under the second cycle, the barangay is now preparing to identify its third-cycle project, with a fund allocation of ₱1.2 million under the DSWD KALAHI-CIDSS PAMANA Program. By Jesse Maguiya
