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Pasig LGU inaugurates new health center with mental health counseling room
Philippines
Metro Manila
Pasig LGU inaugurates new health center with mental health counseling room
Pasig LGU inaugurates new health center with mental health counseling room
Published Mar 4, 2026 10:10 am
The local government of Pasig on Tuesday, March 3, inaugurated a new health center with rooms designated for essential medical services such as minor surgical procedures and a dental room, as well as a dedicated counseling room for mental health, adolescent concerns, and Women and Children Protection Unit (WCPU) cases.
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, together with Vice Mayor Dodot Jaworski and Congressman Roman Romulo, leads the inauguration of the Romulo Building’s conversion into a new Health Center in Barangay San Jose. (Photos from Pasig PIO)
Pasig City Rep. Roman Romulo speaks during the inauguration of the Romulo Building’s conversion into a new Health Center. (Photos from Pasig PIO)
The new health center, located on F. Concepcion Street in Barangay San Jose, was originally the Romulo Building, established in 2013 and intended to serve as a health center to provide primary medical care. However, it was not utilized for its intended purpose for nearly a decade.
“2013 ang original building, nung unang terms pa ni Cong Romulo noon. Kaso hindi daw ito pinagamit ng LGU, hindi na siguro natin malalaman kung bakit (The original building was constructed in 2013, during Congressman Romulo’s first term. However, it was reportedly not used by the local government at the time, and we probably will never know why),” Mayor Vico Sotto said.
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, together with Vice Mayor Dodot Jaworski and Congressman Roman Romulo, leads the inauguration of the Romulo Building’s conversion into a new Health Center in Barangay San Jose. (Photos from Pasig PIO)
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, together with Vice Mayor Dodot Jaworski and Congressman Roman Romulo, leads the inauguration of the Romulo Building’s conversion into a new Health Center. (Photos courtesy of Pasig PIO)
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, together with Vice Mayor Dodot Jaworski and Congressman Roman Romulo, leads the inauguration of the Romulo Building’s conversion into a new Health Center in Barangay San Jose. (Photos from Pasig PIO)
With a total project cost of P8.7 million, the primary health care facility has a gross floor area of approximately 380 square meters. The two-storey center houses rooms designated for essential medical services, including treatment and consultation, minor surgery, immunization, nutrition, and family planning, in addition to a dedicated counseling room.
In his message, Sotto highlighted the local government’s strict compliance with the standards and requirements of the Department of Health (DOH) in constructing healthcare facilities.
Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto speaks during the inauguration of the Romulo Building’s conversion into a new Health Center. (Photos from Pasig PIO)
He noted that adherence to DOH standards is also necessary for accreditation with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), particularly for programs such as e-Konsulta and the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP), which aim to provide comprehensive and accessible medical services.
As a city that was one of the early implementers of Universal Health Care (UHC) nationwide, with the goal of strengthening preventive health care, Sotto added that construction of health centers, which bring health services closer to Pasigueños and address illnesses before hospitalization becomes necessary, is one way to achieve this.
Vice Mayor Dodot Jaworski and Rep. Roman Romulo, together with other local government officials, barangay officials, and staff of the San Jose Health Center, attended the inauguration.
Pasig City Vice Mayor Dodot Jaworski speaks during the inauguration of the Romulo Building’s conversion into a new Health Center. (Photos from Pasig PIO)
In his speech, Romulo said that now that the building is fully and officially operational as a health center, he encouraged residents to visit their local health centers first before going to public hospitals, emphasizing that they can receive the same level and quality of care.
Meanwhile, the vice mayor said that the establishment of health centers helps decongest hospitals and enables them to prioritize life-threatening cases.
He also emphasized the importance of maintaining cleanliness and order within the facility to ensure its long-term use and wished good health for all Pasigueños.
In addition, the local government said the project cost also covered minor improvements to the adjacent San Jose Child Development Center, including the installation of ceiling fans and the replacement of damaged lights and faucets, to ensure a safe and comfortable learning environment for the children.
On Feb. 27, the local government also inaugurated the new E. Santos Health Center, a three-storey facility with a total project cost of P 13.5 million, complete with a CCTV system, fire safety system, and other features.
“Ang maganda sa mga bagong Health Center natin ngayon, ay pasok sila sa DOH Standards. Mapapansin na marami sa mga lumang Center ay masisikip o di angkop/kulang ang infra works sa pangangailangan (The great thing about our new health centers today is that they comply with DOH standards. You will notice that many of the older centers are cramped or have infrastructure that is insufficient or not suited to their needs),” Sotto said.
The mayor added that they first secure a DOH Permit to Construct and consult the “end users” during the planning stage, ensuring that the facilities are tailored to the services the health center will provide.