Hundreds of residents of Brgy. Cabarbuhan, Bacon District, Sorsogon City, was seen lining up at the Brgy. Cabarbuhan covered court to avail free and professional healthcare services last June 7, 2025, Saturday.
UP Bugkos recently concluded its annual community service initiative, Tabang Bicol 2025: MediKabikolan, a medical and dental mission that aims to bring essential healthcare services to the local community in Sorsogon City.
“These barangays have limited access to healthcare because of transportation difficulties, the event was especially meaningful. Most residents also rely on these medical and dental missions for check-ups and tooth extractions because of financial constraints,” said Clarence Mari Ong, the event head.
The event provided free medical consultations, dental check-ups, minor dental procedures, and prescribed medications to a total of 243 residents of the barangay. These services were made possible through the efforts of six volunteer doctors, two dentists, two dental assistants, and 30 medical volunteers who worked together to respond to the community’s health needs.
The mission offered free X-ray services, tuberculosis testing, and HIV testing to the residents with the help of Culion Foundation Inc. and St. Expeditus Medical Emergency Response Services (SEMERS) Sorsogon, respectively.
MediKabikolan was reintroduced this year as part of the organization’s commitment to extending healthcare access to areas where such services are limited. Recognizing Brgy. Cabarbuhan as a community with minimal access to medical resources, UP Bugkos prioritized it as the mission’s site, ensuring that residents could benefit from free and quality health services.
“…it is vital that we give back to the Filipino people that provide us with the gift of education. Many of us from UP Bugkos also hope to provide service to our fellow Bicolanos, especially to those in underserved communities,” said Giana Krisha Baturiano, president of UP Bugkos.
The event was organized in partnership with local government units, barangay health workers, civic groups, and other student-led organizations.
“We are very thankful to SEMERS Sorsogon, who mobilized most of the medical volunteers for the event and the addition of the free HIV screening, and to Cullion Foundation for conducting the free tuberculosis testing. Their presence and active participation greatly contributed to the success of the event,” said Ong.
Through initiatives like MediKabikolan, UP Bugkos continues to advance its mission of community service and empowerment in the Bicol community. By delivering healthcare directly to grassroots communities, the organization aims to reduce barriers to medical access and improve health outcomes for Bicolanos.
“We have been conducting our Tabang Bicol flagship program for more than a decade now, and it has evolved into providing service to a wide variety of sectors in Bicol. Once begun as a medical mission in central areas in Bicol, Tabang Bicol has since then been composed of initiatives such as digital literacy programs for farmers and free review services for high school students throughout the region,” stated Baturiano.
Tabang Bicol, the annual flagship program of UP Bugkos, has long been dedicated to serving the Bicol Region through various initiatives. In past years, the program has organized free college entrance test reviews to support senior high school students and extended assistance to local farming cooperatives, reflecting the organization’s commitment to community development.
This article is brought to you by UP Bugkos.
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