Iloilo City Mayor Raisa Treñas welcomed the construction of a new Healthlink facility in Barangay San Rafael, Mandurriao, saying it will give more Ilonggos access to healthcare services.

Treñas attended the groundbreaking of Healthlink (Iloilo), Inc. and said the project was particularly meaningful to her because the healthcare provider has been part of her family’s healthcare journey.

“Personal gid ini nga occasion para sa akon because Healthlink has been part of our family’s healthcare journey through the years. Ako mismo, suki sang Healthlink—mahapos, madasig, kag accessible ang ila serbisyo,” Treñas said in a Facebook post.

She also recalled the late Dr. Ronnie Z. Samoro, whom she said had dreamed of developing the property into a bigger healthcare facility.

“Dr. Ronnie was not just our doctor—he was family,” Treñas said, recalling how the physician cared for her during the birth of her child.

Treñas said the new facility also supports the city government’s goal of making healthcare more accessible, particularly to residents who cannot easily afford medical services.

Healthcare, she said, remains one of her top priorities, with the city government allocating a bigger portion of its budget for the sector.

Under the city’s HAPLOS or Health Assistance sa Pumuluyo, Laboratory kag Ospital Serbis program, qualified Ilonggos can receive up to P50,000 in hospitalization assistance and up to P10,000 for laboratory requirements.

The program currently partners with 10 public and private hospitals in the city. Treñas said she hopes Healthlink can also become a partner, particularly for laboratory services.

The city also provides free maintenance medicines to senior citizens and persons with disabilities with hypertension and diabetes through its MediSen+ program.

“Today, we are laying more than the foundation of a building. We are continuing a dream and building a future where more lives can be cared for, more families can find reassurance, kag mas madamo nga Ilonggos ang may chance nga magkabuhi nga mas healthy kag may paglaum,” Treñas said.IMT