Iloilo City opens PHP 72M super health center in Arevalo

ILOILO CITY — Residents of Arevalo district and nearby communities are expected to gain access to more primary health care services through the PHP 72 million Arevalo District Super Health Center, which the Iloilo City Government inaugurated on Friday, Oct. 2.

The two-story facility has an estimated floor area of 953 square meters. It is designed to provide maternity care, dental services, medicines, laboratory tests, minor surgeries, delivery services, and preventive and diagnostic care.

Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas-Chu said the project aims to bring health services closer to residents, particularly those who have difficulty accessing medical care.

“We know it is very difficult to get sick nowadays. That is our goal: to help all Ilonggos and take care of our constituents,” Treñas-Chu said.

“My goal is to improve the district health centers all over Iloilo City,” she added.

The city is also exploring a plan to establish a dialysis center beside the Arevalo facility to expand its services.

Meanwhile, the La Paz Maternity Center is undergoing renovation so it can be converted into a primary health care facility.

DOH support

The Department of Health-Western Visayas (DOH-Western Visayas) provided PHP 14.5 million in support for the facility, including PHP 10 million for infrastructure and PHP 2 million for equipment.

The agency also committed to providing additional medicines for the facility’s pharmacy.

Super health centers are part of the DOH’s push to bring primary care, diagnostics, and minor procedures closer to communities and to ease congestion in hospitals. The push is in line with the Universal Health Care Act, or Republic Act 11223, signed in 2019.

Other health programs

Treñas-Chu said health care remains a priority of her administration, with programs covering preventive care, maintenance medicines, hospital and laboratory assistance, and the expansion of services at the community level.

Among these initiatives is MediSen+, which provides free maintenance medicines to qualified senior citizens and persons with disabilities. The covered conditions include hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes.

The city government also implements HAPLOS, or Health and Hospital Assistance for Admission and Laboratory Services. The program provides hospital assistance of up to PHP 50,000 and laboratory assistance of up to PHP 10,000 through 10 partner public and private hospitals in Iloilo City.

Treñas-Chu said she monitors hospital payments weekly to ensure that the city government settles its obligations on time and that assistance remains available to residents.

The city’s clinical laboratory is in the final stages of preparation and is targeted to become fully operational in 2027.

The mayor said the city aims to make laboratory services affordable or, if possible, free for Ilonggos.