Renovated Laoag health center pushes toward stronger, wider healthcare access
SM Foundation transforms the Laoag Rural Health Unit III Primary Care Facility and Birthing Home through comprehensive refurbishment, optimizing the facility's layout to better serve patients and support healthcare worker.
A really big step.
This is how Department of Health (DOH) Development Management Officer Jay-r Cacao called the renovation done by the SM Foundation at the Laoag Rural Health Unit (RHU) III Primary Care Facility (PCF) and Birthing Home.
Cacao elaborated that securing PhilHealth accreditation under the YAKAP program and licensing Laoag RHU III as a PCF would broaden the services residents can access and reduce the cost of seeking care. With the facility's infrastructure now improved, it is better equipped to meet the standards necessary for transitioning from an RHU to a fully operational PCF.
As an accredited PCF, the RHU could expand its preventive and outpatient services, while YAKAP accreditation would give patients access to consultations, basic tests, and essential medicines with minimal or no cost. These measures support Universal Health Care goals and make routine services more accessible to families relying on public facilities.
The transformation underway, however, builds on decades of experience on the ground.
For nearly three decades, Edita Mandac has served at the same rural health unit in Barangay 16, Laoag. As a midwife at the Laoag RHU III PCF and Birthing Home, she has seen maternal care in the community gradually change—first slowly, and now more quickly as the facility undergoes improvements.
She recalled that in earlier years, many mothers opted to give birth at home to avoid additional expenses. Although she and her colleagues were trained to assist in such situations, she said that home births came with uncertainties. Despite this, she continued her work because helping mothers and seeing healthy babies delivered remained rewarding.
“Before, many mothers preferred to give birth at home because it was less costly. Even if you are trained, there are still many uncertainties with home births. Still, you continue with your duty because you want to help mothers, and it’s fulfilling when you help bring a healthy baby into the world,” she shared.
Mandac said that the situation today is different. With policies discouraging home births and encouraging facility-based deliveries, the recent renovation of their health center, supported by the SM Foundation, came at the right time.
She explained that once the birthing home completes its accreditation with the DOH and PhilHealth, the team will be in a better position to provide safer and more efficient ambulatory services for mothers.
She added that the RHU already plays an important role by offering essential prenatal check-ups and postnatal care for babies, and she believes the improved facility will allow them to expand these services more effectively.
A facility that inspires service
For Nurse Jennifer Lazo-Peralta, Nurse II at the Laoag RHU III PCF and Birthing home, the renovation has reshaped not only the space but also the morale of the staff.
“Every day is a busy day for us as we implement all DOH programs, and we accommodate every patient who comes in, especially those who don’t have the means to shoulder the costs of private clinics or hospitals. That’s why the PCF is essential in this area,” she said, adding that they serve over 30,0000 Laoag City residents.
“We didn’t expect the renovation to turn out this well,” she claimed. “The facility now has a warm, comfortable atmosphere. It feels professional but welcoming, and the environment really motivates you to serve. At the same time, this kind of space encourages residents to come in, participate in their healthcare, and trust the system.”
A mother’s perspective
Mafimae Dumbrique (center) receives a warm welcome from nurse Peralta (left) and midwife Mandac (right) as she enters the transformed facility for her prenatal care.
Laoag City resident Mafimae Dumbrique, pregnant with her sixth child, has relied on RHU III for prenatal check-ups and newborn care for all her children.
“Before, it was very hot because we had to wait outside for our turn. The chairs were hard, and it was tough for pregnant mothers like me. The discomfort added to back pain and sometimes raised our blood pressure, which isn’t good for us or the baby,” she shared.
She says the improved space, complete with a designated breastfeeding area, air conditioning, ample cushioned seating, and bright, calming interiors, now makes her look forward to her appointments. “It helps you feel more at ease. I feel more energized coming here for prenatal care.”
Gearing up for the change
The SM Foundation’s intervention went beyond structural improvements.
To strengthen the facility’s capacity to deliver primary care services, it also implemented its DigiKonsulta program, enabling digitization of patient records and remote consultations.
Recognizing the center’s location near an evacuation site, the Foundation additionally installed a rainwater catchment system, an investment in water resource management that ensures the facility has a reliable supply of non-potable water during emergencies or periods of scarcity.
For Mandac, Peralta, and Cacao, the renovation is truly a huge step towards a more equitable healthcare system, one built not just on infrastructure, but on the renewed trust and comfort of the community it serves.
Due to its location near an evacuation site, the Foundation added a rainwater catchment system, ensuring reliable water access during emergencies and shortages.
SM Foundation introduces a mobile play cabinet with educational toys, helping young patients feel more at ease during their healthcare visits
In addition to consultation rooms, a pharmacy, dental facility, and labor and delivery wards, the new facility provides a dedicated breastfeeding room for nursing mothers.
The newly renovated dental room features ample space for equipment and supplies, enabling dentists to efficiently provide comprehensive oral healthcare services.
