ILOILO CITY EYES CONVERSION OF ALL DISTRICT HEALTH CENTERS INTO PRIMARY HEALTHCARE FACILITIES

ILOILO CITY — The Iloilo City Government is pursuing plans to transform all district health centers into Primary Healthcare Facilities to expand access to comprehensive and affordable medical services for Ilonggos.

Mayor Raisa Treñas said the city government is working on upgrading its existing health facilities, with the Jaro 1 District Health Center among those being considered for conversion into a Super Health Center.

The newly inaugurated Arevalo District Super Health Center serves as an example of the expanded healthcare services that the city government aims to make available in other districts.

The proposed upgrade of the Jaro 1 facility is under review to determine how its capacity and services can be expanded to better address residents’ healthcare needs.

“Aside sa education, ang next naton nga priority is the healthcare sang mga Ilonggo diri sa syudad. Right now, we are upgrading our health centers, our district health centers into Primary Healthcare Facilities,” Treñas said.

Under the plan, district health centers will be developed to provide a wider range of medical services, including maternity care, dental services, pharmacy, laboratory services, and other essential healthcare services.

“Ang aton nga goal is to upgrade our district health centers into Primary Healthcare Facilities para mas madamo nga programs and services ang mahatag sa aton nga mga pumuluyo. If we upgrade these facilities, madamo gid ang makabenepisyo,” she added.

Apart from Jaro 1, the city government is also pursuing upgrades to the La Paz Maternity Clinic and health facilities in Lapuz.

The city is likewise prioritizing the improvement of at least 80 barangay health stations across Iloilo City to strengthen primary healthcare delivery at the community level.

“We are making sure that healthcare is accessible and free para sa mga Ilonggo diri sa syudad,” the mayor said.

Treñas emphasized that the initiatives aim to bring healthcare services closer to communities, allowing residents to access medical attention and essential health services without having to travel far or shoulder unnecessary expenses.

STRENGTHENING HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICES

The expansion of healthcare facilities and programs forms part of the Health and Social Services pillar of the Iloilo City Government’s Rise-to-Action Framework.

Anchored on this priority, the Treñas administration has implemented various programs designed to make healthcare and social assistance more accessible to Ilonggos.

Among its flagship initiatives is the establishment of the Atipan Center, which has served more than 34,000 individuals since its launch last year.

The city government also brings frontline City Hall services closer to communities through Atipan-on-Move, which has served around 4,000 Ilonggos across five barangays.

Other healthcare initiatives include Maayo Med, which provides free medicines through nine Uswag pharmacies; Maayo Ilonggo, which delivers free health services through district health centers; and MediSen+, which provides free maintenance medicines to senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

The city also implements HAPLOS (Health Assistance sa Pumuluyo, Laboratory kag Ospital Serbisyo Program), which, in partnership with 10 city hospitals, provides medical assistance of up to PHP 50,000 to qualified indigent and financially challenged Iloilo City residents.

The assistance may cover hospitalization, diagnostic procedures, laboratory services, medicines, medical supplies, and other essential healthcare needs.

AREVALO SUPER HEALTH CENTER SHOWCASES EXPANDED SERVICES

Opened on Oct. 2, 2026, the two-story Arevalo Super Health Center is designed to provide comprehensive healthcare services closer to residents of Arevalo and nearby districts.

It is equipped with laboratory, X-ray, pharmacy, dental, and maternal and child health services, giving residents access to a wider range of medical services within their district.

“Ang aton syudad tinguhaan gid nga kon pwede lang mapalibre ang mga services, mabuligan naton ang tanan nga nagamasakit. Amo na ang aton goal sang aton Super Health Center, may makadtuan ang aton mga pumuluyo nga mabal-an nila nga may naga-atipan sa ila,” Treñas said.

Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-6) Director Dr. Mar Wynn D. Bello, who attended the inauguration, described the facility as among the best health centers he had seen during his visits to four regions.

The Arevalo Super Health Center has a total project cost of PHP 72,000,000, with approximately PHP 14,500,000 in partial funding from the Department of Health’s Health Facility Enhancement Program (HFEP).

The DOH funding allocation includes PHP 10,000,000 for infrastructure, PHP 2,000,000 for medical equipment, and PHP 2,000,000 for an ambulance.

Through the planned conversion of district health centers and continued improvement of barangay health stations, the city government aims to establish a stronger network of community-based healthcare facilities and ensure that essential medical services are accessible and affordable to every Ilonggo. (City Hall press release)