Access to quality, affordable healthcare is a right that should not be denied to the people of Abra.
This according to Abra lone district Rep. JB Bernos and SOLID NORTH Party-list Rep. Ching Bernos, who have filed a measure to upgrade and expand the province’s healthcare system, citing the urgent need to bring critical medical services closer to Abreños who often travel long hours to access treatment.
House Bill No. 4307, filed in the presence of Presidential Legislative Liaison Office Secretary Adrian Carlos Bersamin, will convert the Abra Provincial Hospital into the Dr. Luis F. Bersamin, Sr. Medical Center Complex (DLFBSMCC). The hospital’s current 50-bed capacity will be expanded to 200 beds and its facilities upgraded to meet Level II standards under the Department of Health (DOH).
“Abra currently has only one public hospital serving more than 250,000 residents. This is not enough.”
The bill will also establish the Gov. Andres B. Bernos Multi-Specialty Medical Center, designed to provide specialized services—such as cardiology, oncology, and nephrology—that are typically only available in major hospitals outside the province.
Rep. JB Bernos lamented that “Abra currently has only one public hospital serving more than 250,000 residents. This is not enough. Every time an Abreño has to travel hours to seek treatment, we are reminded of how urgent this upgrade is. This measure is about ensuring that our people can be healed near their homes.”
“Our constituents deserve access to modern, quality healthcare without traveling hours outside the province. This bill will save lives, address overcrowding, and strengthen the health system of our province.”
According to Rep. Ching Bernos “by investing in these hospitals, we are investing in every Abreño family. This is how we carry forward the legacy of service of Dr. Luis F. Bersamin, Sr. and Gov. Andres B. Bernos—by caring for our people in their most vulnerable moments.”
“We want to help give families peace of mind. Para alam nila na pag may nagkasakit sa kanila, hindi nila kailangan bumyahe kung saan-saan para lang makatanggap ng proper health care,” said the Ilokana lawmaker.
Nationally, the DOH’s Health Facility Development Plan has identified the need to increase hospital bed coverage from approximately 1.2 to 2.7 beds per 1,000 people to meet growing healthcare demands. In Abra, the current ratio falls short of this target, but expanding hospital’s bed capacity from 50 beds to 200 beds will reduce this gap.
Once enacted, the measure mandates that funding for the expansion—including infrastructure, equipment, and additional healthcare staff—be incorporated into the national budget.
The Bernos lawmakers said this effort forms part of Solid North’s broader push to advance inclusive development in Northern Luzon, ensuring that progress is felt not just in urban centers but in every community across the region.
