Victorias City marked a new chapter in healthcare with the inauguration of the Abelardo & Remedios Bantug Memorial Hospital (ARBMH) Main Building on February 3, 2025. The blessing of the state-of-the-art facility is a significant milestone, aiming to provide accessible and quality healthcare services to the people of Victorias.
Located in Bandung Village Phase 1, Barangay VII, Victorias City, the hospital symbolizes the city's commitment to offering efficient healthcare to all Victoriasanons.
The event was attended by key figures including Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez, former 3rd District Congressman and current Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo "Albee" Benitez, Board Member Richard Julius Sablan, and representatives of the Bantug family: Rey Bantug, Cynthia Bantug Regino, Caesar Regino, Maria Remedios Hermilinda Bantug, and Maribel Palanca-Ko.
Also in attendance were Vice Mayor Abelardo Bantug III, City Councilors Francis Frederick Palanca, Teresita Bartolome, Deilen Hofileña, Hermie Millan, Dino Jose Maria Acuña, Warlito Undar, Dexter Senido, Danilo De Asis Jr., Joji Larraga, Audie Malaga, Eric Alcobilla, Trisha Mae Majan, and Barangay VII officials. City Health Officer and ARBMH’s designated Medical Director Dr. Richard Garlitos, as well as officers, medical staff, and board members of the Victorias Kaayong Lawas Foundation, Inc., also joined the celebration.
Formerly the Immaculate Conception Health Center, the hospital, managed by the Victorias Kaayong Lawas Foundation, Inc., reflects the city's vision for expanding healthcare access. The hospital’s inauguration reinforces Victorias City's commitment to providing modern and sustainable medical services for its growing population.
After the ceremonial ribbon-cutting and unveiling of the hospital marker, Rev. Fr. Gerald Libo-on of the Our Lady of Victory Parish led the hospital’s blessing, invoking divine guidance for its success in service.
Ann Rose Gicana, Executive Director of the Victorias Kaayong Lawas Foundation, Inc., expressed that the opening of ARBMH fulfills one of Mayor Benitez’s top priorities—creating a healthcare facility that not only handles emergencies and outpatient consultations but also serves as a crucial waiting station for tertiary care under the province’s One Hospital Command.
Gicana also highlighted that ARBMH is dedicated to continuing the compassionate legacy of the late Mayor Remedios Bantug, ensuring that even the most marginalized Victoriasanons have access to affordable and quality healthcare.
Maria Remedios Hermilinda Bantug, speaking on behalf of the Bantug family, extended their gratitude to Mayor Benitez for spearheading the operation of the hospital. She paid tribute to their late Lola Idiong’s deep love for Victoriasanons, emphasizing that the hospital’s mission is to provide top-tier healthcare to all citizens.
In his speech, Mayor Javi reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to healthcare, stating, “I have always believed that healthcare is of utmost importance.” He emphasized that public demand for a fully functional hospital had been the driving force behind the establishment of ARBMH.
With a 25-bed capacity, ARBMH offers a wide range of services, including an emergency room, laboratory, X-ray, ultrasound, ECG, and more. Spanning 1,100 square meters in its first two phases, the hospital is accredited as a primary care facility by the Department of Health (DOH). Future expansions will introduce minor surgical procedures, a clinical laboratory, pharmacy, birthing services, dental services, and a Type I ambulance unit.
Once fully operational, ARBMH will not only provide primary healthcare services but also act as a stabilizing station for patients requiring transfer to tertiary hospitals in nearby Silay, Bacolod, or Cadiz.
This inauguration marks a major step forward in Victorias City’s journey to ensuring better health outcomes for its citizens and is a beacon of hope for a healthier, brighter future for all Victoriasanons.