The measure, Draft Ordinance No. 9070, would prioritize bona fide Manila residents for outpatient consultations and routine procedures, including dental checkups and basic laboratory tests.

Emergency cases, however, would remain open to patients regardless of where they live.

The 13th City Council approved the measure during its regular session on Monday, Aug. 17, under the leadership of Vice Mayor Chi Atienza. It was authored by 5th District Councilor Atty. Jaybee Hizon.

The proposed measure comes as some Manila residents have taken their frustrations over their experiences at city-run hospitals to social media, with complaints circulating in local Facebook groups about access to services at facilities including the Ospital ng Sampaloc and Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center.

Some posts alleged difficulties in getting accommodated, while others raised concerns about interactions with doctors and nurses, particularly in emergency rooms. The Manila Bulletin could not independently verify the individual complaints or determine how widespread the reported experiences are.

The City Council did not specifically cite the social media complaints as the basis for Draft Ordinance No. 9070. 

“Kung ang serbisyo naman po ay pasta lang o simpleng check-up, napakahaba po ng pila sa ating mga ospital. Baka naman po pwedeng unahin po muna natin sa pila ang mga Batang Maynila na nagbabayad ng buwis sa ating lungsod (If the service is just a dental filling or a simple checkup, the lines at our hospitals are very long. Perhaps we can prioritize the Batang Maynila who pay taxes in our city),” Hizon said.

“Ang panukalang ito ay nangangahulugan ng isang malaking pagbabago sa pampublikong polisiya sa kalusugan para masigurong nararamdaman ng ating mga kababayan ang kalinga ng lungsod (This proposal represents a major change in public health policy to ensure that our residents feel the city’s care),” he added.

Atienza backed the proposal, saying she had heard similar concerns from Manila residents during her visits around the city.

“Gusto ko lang i-commend si Councilor Atty. Jaybee Hizon dahil sa totoo lang, sa pag-ikot ko rin sa Maynila, ’yan ang naririnig ko sa maraming mga Manilenyo—na minsan kailangan nilang pumunta sa ospital para magpa-check-up, ngunit ang mga kakumpitensya nila sa pila ay hindi naman taga-lungsod (I want to commend Councilor Atty. Jaybee Hizon because, honestly, as I go around Manila, this is what I hear from many Manileños—that sometimes they need to go to a hospital for a checkup, but those competing with them in the queue are not from the city),” Atienza said.

She said the measure would ensure that city-funded healthcare services are first felt by Manila residents.

“Napapanahon ang inisyatibong ito upang masigurong ang serbisyo at pondo ng Maynila ay unang nararamdaman at napapakinabangan ng mga lehitimong Batang Maynila (This initiative is timely to ensure that Manila’s services and funds are first felt and enjoyed by legitimate Batang Maynila),” Atienza said.

Atienza added that the proposal complements Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso’s efforts to decongest major city hospitals by improving health centers.

“Habang dine-congest ng ating alkalde ang main hospitals natin by building, fixing, and supplying all the necessary needs sa mga health centers, eventually makakayanan na rin natin tumanggap ng mga pasyente mula sa iba’t ibang lungsod. But for now, maganda ang hakbang na ito para mauna ang ating mga kababayan (While our mayor is decongesting our main hospitals by building, fixing, and supplying all the necessary needs in our health centers, eventually we will be able to accommodate patients from different cities. But for now, this is a good step to prioritize our residents),” she said.

The measure received a favorable report from the Committee on Health and will undergo third and final reading before it can be formally enacted.