The Gov. Celestino Gallares Multi-Specialty Medical Center in Cortes, Bohol is expanding its cardiovascular services under a technical assistance and capacity-building program with the Philippine Heart Center, a program initiated by former Bohol Rep. Atty. Edgar M. Chatto and the provincial government.
The 1st Bohol Cardiovascular Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Activity was held at the medical center in partnership with the Philippine Heart Center.
The provincial government said the program would strengthen the capacity of local health professionals and improve cardiovascular care for patients in the province.
“It is very important for us to support the 1st Bohol Cardiovascular Technical Assistance and Capacity Building Activity conducted by the Gov. Celestino Gallares Multi-Specialty Medical Center in partnership with the Philippine Heart Center,” a statement said.
The activity is part of a continuing effort to develop the Cortes facility into a center capable of providing specialized medical services closer to Boholano patients.
The Philippine Heart Center has been working with the Gallares facility on training, technical assistance and other forms of cooperation.
During an earlier visit to the Cortes hospital, Heart Center officials discussed assistance for specialized cardiovascular services, including training and heart missions, while Gallares staff underwent training in operating-room and critical-care work with the Heart Center.
Dr. Avenilo Aventura Jr., the Heart Center’s executive director, led a team that visited the Gallares facility in April 2025 to explore areas of cooperation.
Aventura said the partnership could bring specialized expertise to Bohol, allowing more procedures to be performed locally while referring more difficult cases to the Heart Center when necessary.
Development of the Cortes facility is closely tied to Chatto, who authored Republic Act 11883, the law that converted the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital into a multi-specialty medical complex.
The Senate Legislative Reference Bureau lists House Bill 10242, the proposed Gov. Celestino Gallares Multi-Specialty Medical Complex, as authored by Chatto.
Under RA 11883, the medical complex includes the Gov. Celestino Gallares Memorial Medical Center in Tagbilaran City and the Multi-Specialty Medical Center in Cortes.
The law placed the complex under the direct control and supervision of the Department of Health.
The measure was presented as part of efforts to expand access to specialized health services in Central Visayas.
During congressional deliberations, Chatto said the conversion would help address underserved areas and support the government’s Universal Health Care program.
The Cortes facility held its soft opening in September 2025, beginning partial operations with an initial focus on specialized services, including cardiovascular care, and plans for additional specialty services as its capabilities develop.
The partnership with the Philippine Heart Center is crucial because cardiovascular patients in Bohol have historically had to seek highly specialized treatment outside the province.
Chatto has said the project is intended to reduce the need for Boholano heart patients to travel to Cebu or Manila for specialized treatment.
The Heart Center has described its cooperation with the Cortes facility as part of an effort to decentralize specialized medical services, while still referring difficult cases to the national specialty center.
The Cortes hospital is listed in the 2026 roster of accredited hospitals as a government Level 2 facility with a 50-bed capacity.
The facility is also among specialty-center projects tied to the government’s effort to expand access to specialized medical services outside Metro Manila.
The Capitol said the cardiovascular capacity-building activity should not be viewed simply as a training exercise, but as a step toward strengthening the medical workforce and systems needed to provide cardiovascular care in Bohol.