IN a major step toward making healthcare more accessible and preventive services more community-centered, the Department of Health (DOH) – Ilocos Center for Health Development, in partnership with Robinsons Land Corporation (RLC) and the Ilocos Training and Regional Medical Center (ITRMC), on Friday, May 22, 2026, formally opened the DOH Wellness Center at Robinsons Place La Union located at the fourth floor of Robinsons La Union.
The center will provide free and accessible primary healthcare and preventive services daily from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, making healthcare readily available to mall-goers, workers, families, and the general public in a convenient and people-friendly setting.
Guest of Honor and DOH Undersecretary Glenn Matthew Baggao emphasized that the opening of the Wellness Center reflects the government’s commitment to bringing healthcare directly to communities and transforming the healthcare experience for every Filipino.
“Healthcare should not begin only when someone is already sick. Through wellness centers like this, we are changing the culture of healthcare in the Philippines—from treatment to prevention, from hospital-centered care to community-centered care. We want every Filipino to feel that health services are within reach, accessible, and part of their everyday lives,” he stated.
He added that mall-based wellness centers bridge the gap between healthcare facilities and the public by placing services in locations where people naturally gather.
“By opening wellness centers inside malls, we remove barriers to healthcare access. We make consultations, screenings, counseling, and health education more approachable and less intimidating. This initiative is about empowering people to take charge of their health before illnesses become severe,” he stressed.
Regional Director Sydiongco likewise underscored the importance of preventive healthcare and early detection in improving the quality of life of communities.
“This Wellness Center is more than just a clinic—it is a safe space where people can seek guidance, learn healthy habits, and access essential health services without fear, difficulty, or long travel. We are bringing healthcare closer to where people work, shop, and spend time with their families,” Sydiongco said.
She further emphasized that the center embodies the principles of Universal Health Care by ensuring that health services are accessible, responsive, and centered on the needs of the people.
“Every consultation, every counseling session, and every screening conducted here is an opportunity to prevent disease, promote wellness, and protect families. Through this initiative, we hope to inspire communities to prioritize health and well-being as part of daily life,” she added.
The center will offer a wide range of free primary care and preventive health services, including Body Mass Index (BMI) assessment, risk screening for non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes, and kidney disease, healthy lifestyle counseling, health education, family planning services, HIV screening and counseling, and mental health support.
Scheduled specialty consultations will also be available in adult medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, ophthalmology, senior citizen care, nutrition, and wellness services. The facility will likewise host regular health promotion activities and community lay forums to strengthen public awareness on disease prevention and healthy living.
ITRMC will provide physician support, referral services, access to laboratory and diagnostic services through referrals, patient transport when necessary, and assistance in enrolling qualified patients in PhilHealth’s YAKAP (Yaman ng Kalusugan Program), ensuring continuity of care for patients requiring higher-level medical services.
The regional office is likewise aiming to open a wellness center in Robinsons Place Laoag City and Robinson Place Calasiao in Pangasinan as part of the health department’s initiative to roll out mall-based wellness centers nationwide.
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