SURIGAO DEL NORTE – Under the leadership of Surigao del Norte 1st District Representative Bingo Matugas, two major simultaneous medical missions held in both District 1 and District 2 of Surigao del Norte were successfully staged last month.
These missions delivered essential medical services to thousands of Surigaonons across both districts of the province.
These missions were:
- The Bagtik na Panlawas para sa Bagtik na Surigaonon medical mission, that traveled across multiple municipalities in Siargao Island, bringing healthcare services directly to residents
- The Bagtik Balik Liwanag Cataract Healing Mission that was stationed at the Caraga Regional Hospital, Surigao City (due to the specialized surgeries that were conducted).
The missions provided free, quality healthcare services, ensuring that both basic medical needs and specialized treatments were met for residents across the province.
Both missions were open to all Surigaonons.
These initiatives, part of Matugas’ commitment to improving healthcare access across the entire Surigao del Norte, were made possible through the following partnerships:
- Partners of the Bagtik na Panlawas mission: St. Padre Pio Dialysis Center, District 1 former and aspiring Congressman Atty. Lalo Matugas, the municipal mayors of Siargao
- Partners of the Bagtik Balik Liwanag mission: Dr. Maria Theresa Villaluz-Heyrosa’s Budyong Integrated Humanitarian Mission medical team from Cebu City, Caraga Regional Hospital, and FM Radio Surigao 89.3 Bagtik Radio.
“Health is the foundation of a prosperous and resilient community,” said Matugas.
“These missions reflect our unwavering commitment to making healthcare a right, not a privilege, and to serving every Surigaonon with dignity and compassion.”
Bagtik na Panlawas Para sa Bagtik na Surigaonon: Reaching Every Municipality in Siargao
A total of 1,454 Surigaonons from this municipality alone were able to benefit from the mission.
The Bagtik na Panlawas Para sa Bagtik na Surigaonon medical mission ran from January 28 to February 17, 2025, delivering much-needed medical services across all nine municipalities of Siargao. The mobile mission provided:
- Free medical check-ups
- Free medicines and vitamins
- Free diagnostic services such as chest X-rays, ECG, RBS (random blood sugar), cholesterol, and hemoglobin testing (subject to doctor’s recommendations)
The mobile setup ensured that even the most remote barangays received medical attention. A total of 9,813 residents were served:
- Burgos: 461
- San Isidro: 991
- Del Carmen: 1,241
- Pilar: 1,077
- Dapa: 1,985
- San Benito: 447
- Santa Monica: 810
- General Luna: 1,037
- Socorro: 1,454
Donna Tiu, a member of the Bagtik Team who led the mission’s execution, shared, “I think that this medical mission is one of a kind — it touches the hearts of the people of Siargao. The people of Siargao were very happy to have this mission, especially since it was the first time free X-rays and ECGs were provided. Many people are already asking for the next round, hoping we can add urinalysis and CBC.”
Bagtik Balik Liwanag Cataract Healing Mission: Restoring Vision for Hundreds
The Bagtik Balik Liwanag Cataract Healing Mission was conducted from February 10 to 20, 2025, at the Caraga Regional Hospital in Surigao City.
The program included free cataract screenings, surgeries, medications, and post-surgical check-ups.
A total of 266 patients received free cataract surgeries:
- Siargao Island: 5
- Dinagat Province: 1
- Mainland Surigao del Norte: 153
- Surigao City: 107
“The eye surgical healing mission is a laudable project. It benefited many senior citizens and middle-aged residents. It was overwhelming, seeing the patients’ happy faces as they left after their surgeries. Their heartfelt gratitude has shown how these Bagtik services have truly uplifted the lives of Surigaonons. It is truly rewarding to witness the joy and renewed hope of patients as they regain clearer vision,” said Albert Lancin, FM Radio Surigao 89.3’s station manager.
Rep. Matugas personally visited the patients during the mission, receiving grateful applause from both the patients and hospital staff.
He assured those requiring further surgeries that a second round of the Bagtik Balik Liwanag Cataract Healing Mission is on the way, reinforcing his commitment to healthcare.
A Lasting Commitment to Healthcare
Healthcare has long been one of Matugas’ top priorities, as reflected in his efforts to expand and improve medical services across Surigao del Norte.
From making possible the creation of the first ever DOH national hospital in Siargao, to providing province-wide medical assistance, and organizing these large-scale medical missions, Matugas has consistently worked to ensure that Surigaonons have access to quality healthcare.
These initiatives are not just campaign promises – they are a reflection of his long-standing commitment to public health.
This is how he has led, and how he will continue to lead Surigao del Norte in the future.
More initiatives are expected, ensuring that accessible and quality medical services remain a top priority for Surigaonons.
As the missions concluded, Surigaonons left healthier, happier, and filled with gratitude for the life-changing medical care they received.
The message was clear: Surigao del Norte will be sure to flourish under a leader who values and takes good care of the lives, the health, and the well-being of the Surigaonon people.