The Unilab Foundation, through its dedicated research and policy division known as the Unilab Center for Health Policy (UCHP), has officially entered into a strategic partnership with the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP). This collaboration is specifically designed to jointly identify and systematically address the critical barriers that are currently impeding the effective and accelerated implementation of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act at the local government level.
Formalizing the Partnership to Empower Local Governments
This partnership was formalized through the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU). The primary objective is to tackle the fragmented policies, inefficient processes, varying proficiencies, and disjointed systems that are hindering the ability of local government units (LGUs) to successfully implement the essential UHC reforms. This initiative is perfectly aligned with the national mandate to empower LGUs, ensuring that the devolution of healthcare delivery functions from the national government does not result in inconsistent or uneven implementation of vital health services across different localities throughout the Philippines.
Stakeholder Support and Pilot Programs
ULAP National President and Quirino Governor Dakila Carlo “Dax” Cua emphasized that the government requires the robust support of all stakeholders to successfully implement universal healthcare. He stated, "This MOU reflects our shared understanding that Universal Health Care is ultimately realized when governance meets execution, which is at the local level, and that this cannot be done by government alone. We need the support of all stakeholders."
Furthermore, UCHP and ULAP will launch pilot programs in selected LGUs to demonstrate the practical, on-the-ground implementation of UHC. The intent is to use the valuable lessons learned from these local experiences to inform and shape national policy, while also replicating best practices in more areas across the country.
Addressing Structural Challenges Through Collaboration
Governor Cua added, "Many challenges we face today are structural and systemic. No single institution can address problems in isolation. This is why partnerships matter. We are hopeful that this partnership will continue to grow, expanding from policy and systems strengthening toward deeper collaboration and service delivery models, innovation, and efforts that deliberately reach the unreached and underserved Filipino, particularly in communities where access to quality healthcare remains most fragile."
UCHP's Role in Supporting Local Governance
For his part, Unilab Foundation Executive Director Atty. Jose Maria Ochave explained that UCHP's role is to partner with government leaders to help them achieve their vision for their constituents. He noted, "Our role is to show that certain things can work and can be implemented. But the ones who can really move the needle is still government. The ones who can move the needle the most in the coming years will be the local government because that is where governance is felt the most by the people."
UCHP's Mission and Recent Initiatives
The UCHP is a program of the Unilab Foundation that empowers LGUs to become self-reliant and successful implementers of UHC by supporting policy development, enabling evidence-based decision-making, and providing holistic technical assistance that strengthens local execution.
Recently, the UCHP commissioned a study which found that a large portion of local health budgets is allocated to personnel salaries, leaving limited funds for actual health programs and services. This study was lauded by the Department of Budget and Management as a valuable tool in its campaign to maximize local resources efficiently.
Additionally, UCHP recently partnered with the local government of Ormoc City to develop and implement a UHC-aligned primary care service delivery framework specifically for geographically isolated and disadvantaged communities, showcasing its commitment to practical, localized solutions.
Present during the signing of the MOU between Unilab Foundation and ULAP were ULAP Executive Director Aileen Leycano, Unilab Foundation Executive Director Atty. Jose Maria Ochave, ULAP National President and Quirino Governor Dakila Carlo “Dax” Cua, and UCHP Program Director Ruben John Basa.
