ULAP and Unilab Foundation Forge Landmark Partnership to Localize and Accelerate Universal Health Care

In Photo (L-R, Seated): ULAP Executive Director Aileen B. Leycano, ULF Executive Director Atty, Jose Maria Ochave, ULAP President and Quirino Province Governor Dakila Carlo “Dax” Cua, and UCHP Program Director Ruben “John” Basa (L-R, Standing): ULAP Plans, Programs and Policy Director Ralfhee Blake Barrios, UCHP Advisory Council Member Dr. Marife Yap, Romblon Province Governor Hon. Trina Firmalo-Fabic, Quirino Congresswoman Hon. Midy Cua, ULAP Project Development Manager Lawrence John Paulo L. Trinidad, UCHP Consultant Vito Puyat 

The Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) and the Unilab Foundation (ULF) officially entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today, marking a strategic collaboration to strengthen the implementation of Universal Health Care (UHC) at the local level. 

The partnership, executed through the Unilab Center for Health Policy (UCHP), aims to bridge the gap between national health policies and local execution. By focusing on evidence-based strategies and local government unit (LGU) capacity building, the collaboration seeks to address systemic bottlenecks in health financing, supply chain management, and regulatory processes. 

Local Governments as the "Needle Movers" 

During the signing ceremony, Unilab Foundation Executive Director Jose Maria Ochave emphasized that while the private sector can innovate, the true scale of transformation lies within the government. 

"The ones who can really move the needle are the government, particularly local governments, because that is where people feel governance. There is a direct accountability between local leaders and the people," said Ochave. "Our role is to show that certain things can work, then it is up to the local leaders to scale it up." 

ULF Executive Director Atty. Jose Maria Ochave emphasizes that true transformation is driven by government support, while the private sector serves as the proving ground for impactful, scalable initiatives.

A Vision for Precise, Personalized Care 

Hon. Dakila Carlo “Dax” Cua, Quirino Governor and National President of ULAP, lauded the partnership as a necessary step toward ending the fragmentation of the Philippine health system. 

"This MOU reflects a shared understanding that Universal Health Care is ultimately realized where governance meets execution—at the local level," Gov. Cua stated. "We see this not as an endpoint, but as a starting point to ensure devolution leads not to disparity, but to equity." 

Governor Cua also shared a vision for the future of local health distribution, citing the "orange bottle" system used in other countries to ensure personalized, non-resellable medication dosages for patients. "It’s not rocket science; we just need the systems and structures in place. With the private sector’s help, we can work toward a vision of targeted and precise healthcare for every citizen." 

Gov. Dax Cua reiterates the value of partnerships and the importance of strengthening systems in the health sector.

Addressing "Pain Points" in Health Implementation 

UCHP Program Director Ruben “John” Basa highlighted that the center’s work is rooted in the reality that there is a "no one-size-fits-all" framework for LGUs. Since its inception, UCHP has been working with various provinces—such as Catanduanes, Quezon, and Romblon—to map funds and simplify primary care tools like the PhilHealth Konsulta package. 

A key priority for the new partnership is addressing the "regulatory pain points" that often confuse local implementation. Basa noted the need to align the varying and sometimes conflicting requirements between the Department of Health (DOH) and PhilHealth to streamline licensing and accreditation. 

UCHP Program Director Ruben "John" Basa presents a retrospective of the program’s achievements, strategic directions for the future, and newly formed partnerships for 2026.

Moving Forward 

The MOU signifies a multi-year commitment to generating actual evidence from the ground to inform national policy. As UCHP enters its third year in 2026, the partnership expects to expand its reach to more LGUs, focusing on innovation and reaching the "unreached and underserved" Filipino communities. 

About ULAP: The Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines (ULAP) is the umbrella organization of all leagues of local government units and locally elected officials in the country. 

About Unilab Center for Health Policy: Established under the Unilab Foundation, UCHP is a multi-stakeholder platform dedicated to generating data-driven solutions and policy recommendations to support the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act in the Philippines.