Bangsamoro Parliament Approves Bill to Upgrade Iranon District Hospital to 200-Bed Facility
COTABATO CITY (May 19, 2025) — The Bangsamoro Parliament has unanimously approved the third and final reading of Parliament Bill No. 246, also known as the Iranon Provincial Hospital Act of 2023. This bill officially upgrades the Iranon District Hospital in Parang, Maguindanao del Norte, from a 70-bed district hospital to a 200-bed provincial facility.
The vote concluded with 48 affirmative votes and no opposing votes or abstentions.
The authors of the bill stated that this measure will significantly improve healthcare access for thousands of residents in Parang and neighboring towns in Maguindanao del Norte and Lanao del Sur. The expansion of the hospital will be implemented over the next three years, with construction and staffing overseen by the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance and Budget Management, and the Civil Service Commission.
For over 20 years, the Iranon District Hospital has served as the primary government hospital for the municipality of Parang. However, with only 70 beds, it has struggled to meet the growing healthcare needs of the community, often resulting in overcrowding, delayed treatments, and a shortage of medical staff.
Many residents have had to travel long distances for medical care, placing a strain on families and delaying emergency treatment. Bangsamoro Parliament Health Committee Chair Hashemi Dilangalen expressed that the hospital upgrade will address the long-standing healthcare challenges in the municipality, including overcrowded hospitals and lengthy travel times for treatment.
Dilangalen highlighted that the upgraded Iranon Provincial Hospital will not only increase its capacity to 200 beds, but it will also attract more doctors, nurses, and medical specialists to the area. Additionally, the hospital will receive new medical equipment aimed at enhancing patient care, particularly in maternal health, emergency services, and chronic disease treatment.
Funding for this project will come from the Ministry of Health’s annual budget, ensuring that the hospital has the necessary resources to meet the increased demand for services.
Lawmaker Ishak Mastura, also from Maguindanao del Norte, stated that the upgrade fulfills the aspirations of the Bangsamoro people. He emphasized that the regional government is fully committed to prioritizing healthcare and is making significant investments to improve hospitals across the region.
The Iranon Provincial Hospital Act of 2023 was authored by Members of Parliament Ubaida C. Pacasem, Suharto S. Esmael, Matarul M. Estino, Abdullah B. Hashim, Hashemi N. Dilangalen, and Marjanie S. Macasalong. Since 2019, the Bangsamoro Parliament has enacted 10 laws related to hospitals to address healthcare gaps across the region. (Tu Alid Alfonso, BMN/BangsamoroToday)
