Aside from expanding and improving its public healthcare sector, the city government of San Pedro, Laguna under Mayor Art Mercado has found a way to provide more affordable healthcare for its underprivileged residents.
This is through forging partnerships with private and public hospitals in San Pedro City and elsewhere, ensuring that San Pedro residents will be able to afford high-quality healthcare.
Last January 22, Westlake Medical Center in Barangay Nueva became the city’s latest partner in San Pedro City’s Hospital Financial Assistance Program, which seeks to augment existing public health services by enabling eligible beneficiaries to receive necessary medical treatment in an accredited level 2 private hospital without being unduly burdened by hospital expenses.
Mayor Art Mercado signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Westlake Medical Center officials led by its President Jose Mari G. Prats, which establishes a structured framework for cooperation, outlining the responsibilities, financial arrangements, eligibility criteria, and accountability measures necessary to ensure the efficient and transparent delivery of assistance to qualified patients.
Extended support
Through this partnership, the San Pedro City LGU commits to providing financial support, while the hospital agrees to extend medical services to program beneficiaries in accordance with agreed standards and procedures.
"Dahil ang Westlake ay isang Level 2 Private Hospital, magkakaroon ang mga pasyente ng access sa mga serbisyong wala sa mga pampublikong pasilidad, tulad ng mga specialized diagnostics at professional expertise para sa mga moderate to complex medical cases," city officials explained in a message to OpinYon Laguna.
“Layunin nito na bawasan ang ‘inequities’ o hindi pagkakapantay-pantay sa pagkuha ng serbisyong medikal sa lungsod.”
Westlake is the third hospital the city government has forged partnership with for its Hospital Financial Assistance Program, after Evangelista Medical Center in Barangay Pacita 1 and the Batangas Medical Center (for patients in need of specialized healthcare).
"Patuloy ang layunin ng pamahalaan na makipagtulungan sa iba pang private hospitals sa San Pedro (gaya ng San Pedro Doctors Hospital, Divine Mercy, at Family Care) upang masiguro ang 'Universal Health Coverage' para sa mga San Pedrense," officials added.
Infrastructure
Meanwhile, the city government continues its programs of further expanding its healthcare sector through strengthening its local health infrastructure.
“Prayoridad po ng ating pamahalaang lungsod sa ilalim ni Mayor Art Mercado ngayong 2026 ang pagpapalakas ng local healthcare delivery system upang masiguro ang mabilis at de-kalidad na serbisyo,” officials said.
These include the expansion of services offered by the city’s two rural health units (RHUs) in Barangay Pacita 1 and Langgam.
Both RHUs are now also included in the Philippine Health Corporation’s (PhilHealth) Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) program, which offers free primary care services such as routine check-ups, laboratory tests, cancer screening, and outpatient medications under the PhilHealth GAMOT package.
The City Health Office (CHO) is also planning to conduct regular medical missions under the “Araw ng Mamamayan” program of the city government to deliver specialized health services closer to the people.
Meanwhile, the San Pedro City LGU is also fast-tracking the completion of the San Pedro City Medical Center, expected to become the first tertiary-level public hospital in the city.
“Nitong huling bahagi ng 2025, nagkaroon ng ilang pagbabago sa disenyo upang masiguro ang kalidad ng hospital,” officials explained.
“Ngayong 2026, ang proyekto ay ipagpapatuloy pagkatapos ng bidding process. Inaasahang kapag nagawa ito, magiging usable na ang ilang bahagi ng gusali, at hindi na kailangang lumayo pa ng mga San Pedrense lalo ng mga tiga-Upper Villages para sa kanilang mga medikal na pangangailangan.”
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #OpinYonNews