Healthcare Is Becoming Part of the City's Growth Plan
BACOLOD - The Bacolod Comprehensive Healthcare Program has become one of the city's major healthcare initiatives, with PNA reporting that it had 155,952 members and had paid almost ₱147.85 million in hospital expenses as of June 2026. The program was started when Alfredo Abelardo Benitez was mayor and has continued under the administration of Mayor Greg Gasataya. These figures show the scale of healthcare assistance being provided through the program, while the construction of additional medical facilities addresses another part of the challenge: increasing physical capacity for patients.
More Medical Space, More Choices for Families
The development of the 189-bed Mother and Child Building at Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital is particularly relevant to families because maternal and pediatric care requires specialized facilities and trained personnel. PNA reported that the building is part of broader efforts to improve hospital access in Bacolod. For residents, medical infrastructure can influence practical decisions about where to live, work, study, and raise a family because access to healthcare is one of the everyday services people consider when choosing a community. That makes hospitals part of the city's lifestyle infrastructure as much as its roads, schools, and commercial areas.
A Development Story That Starts With People
Healthcare expansion may not attract the same attention as a new mall or condominium project, but its effects are closely tied to how residents experience the city. Better access to medical services can reduce the need for some patients to travel elsewhere for care, while expanded facilities can provide additional capacity as Bacolod's population and surrounding service area continue to grow. The city's healthcare initiatives therefore offer a different perspective on development—one measured not by the height of buildings but by the services available when families need them. For Bacolod, that is an important part of what makes a city livable.
