Naga City and Unilab Foundation Forge Partnership to Enhance Primary Healthcare with Digital Solutions
In a significant move to bolster healthcare delivery, Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo and Unilab Foundation Executive Director Atty. Jose Maria Ochave have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding. This agreement, facilitated through the Unilab Center for Health Policy (UCHP), focuses on the development of digital tools aimed at improving primary healthcare in Naga City. The signing ceremony, which took place recently, marks the launch of a collaborative research and implementation agenda designed to strengthen the city's primary healthcare systems.
Strategic Collaboration for Localized Healthcare Innovation
Atty. Jose Maria Ochave emphasized the critical role of local governments in driving healthcare improvements. "At the Unilab Center for Health Policy, we believe that those who can truly move the needle in healthcare are the local governments, because that is where people feel governance most directly," he stated. "There is a unique, direct accountability between local leaders and the people in Naga City. Our role is to show that these primary care innovations work in this local context; it is then the leadership of Naga that will scale these efforts to ensure Universal Health Care becomes a felt reality for every citizen."
This partnership underscores a commitment to strategic alliances with local governments, enabling the implementation of tailored initiatives that can serve as models for replication across the Philippines. By leveraging Naga City's local data ecosystem, the collaboration aims to create scalable solutions that address specific healthcare challenges.
Roadmap for Integrated Care and Health System Strengthening
The collaboration is structured to deliver three primary outcomes to enhance Naga City's health infrastructure:
- Local Health System Situation Analysis: A comprehensive assessment of Naga's primary care capacity, referral networks, and health information flows to inform reforms under the UHC Integration Site roadmap.
- UHC-Aligned Service Delivery Framework: A streamlined model to address pain points in integrated care pathways, PhilHealth Yaman ng Kalusugan (YAKAP) integration, and health facility accreditation.
- Scalable Learning Tools: Documentation of manuals, frameworks, and case studies to enable other local government units nationwide to replicate Naga's successes.
Ruben Basa, UCHP Program Director, highlighted the operational focus of the partnership. "This partnership is about operationalizing quality care," he explained. "By working closely with the City Health Office and local stakeholders, we are ensuring that the frameworks we develop are grounded in the actual needs of the community. Our technical working groups are focused on creating Standard Operating Procedures and digital tools that simplify the complexities of UHC, making the integration process smoother for both health workers and patients."
Governance and Sustainability Measures
To ensure the project's long-term success, a Joint Steering Committee has been established, led by Mayor Leni Robredo and composed of UCHP directors and program consultants. Additionally, a Technical Working Group (TWG), spearheaded by the City Health Office and supported by UCHP technical experts, will oversee monthly implementation activities, draft Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), and conduct workforce training.
The City Government of Naga has committed to providing leadership, mobilizing health workers, and facilitating community registration to PhilHealth. This effort aims to integrate the population database into the new primary healthcare digital tools, enhancing data-driven decision-making.
Advancing Naga City as a UHC Integration Site
This partnership arrives at a pivotal moment for Naga City, which was recognized by the Department of Health (DOH) as a Universal Health Care (UHC) Integration Site in the third quarter of 2025. Under Mayor Leni Robredo's leadership, Naga joins a prestigious network that includes Quezon City, Zamboanga City, and the Province of Rizal, positioning it at the forefront of a national movement involving over 100 local government units.
Mayor Robredo expressed her enthusiasm for the initiative. "Naga City has always believed that healthcare is a basic right, not a privilege," she said. "Through this collaboration with UCHP and with this data that we hope to get from the ground, we will be able to strategize better on it. We will be able to allocate our resources better. Mas mastre-strengthen po namin yung mas strategic na mga programs rather than yung mga compliance programs. We are happy to be part of initiative that can eventually help the entire nation."
The Unilab Foundation's involvement, alongside the Angat Buhay Foundation led by Mayor Robredo, reinforces the collaborative spirit of this endeavor. With a year-long plan in place, the program aims to create a robust, community-based healthcare system that serves as a foundation for national health reform, ensuring no patient is left behind.
