Mayor Leni Robredo has signed a partnership with the Unilab Center for Health Policy to pilot new, data-driven approaches to primary healthcare, positioning Naga City as a testing ground for innovations that could improve local health services.

The agreement connects the city government with the Unilab Center for Health Policy under the Unilab Foundation, with a focus on using locally gathered health data to guide policy decisions and strengthen community-level programs.

Robredo emphasized that the initiative will help the city prioritize programs that directly address the needs of residents rather than focusing solely on compliance. “Mas mastre-strengthen po namin yung mas strategic na mga programs rather than yung mga compliance programs,” she said.

The project will analyze patient care patterns, health service delivery, and local health records. Researchers and city officials will use the data to identify gaps in healthcare access and design solutions aimed at improving services in local communities.

Naga City will serve as the pilot site, documenting how its local data ecosystem can inform policy and guide practical improvements in primary healthcare delivery. The findings are expected to generate models that other local governments can adopt if proven effective.

By grounding policy decisions in community-level data, the partnership seeks to produce actionable lessons to strengthen primary healthcare systems nationwide. The collaboration highlights the critical role of local governments in translating on-the-ground experience into insights that can shape more responsive and effective health programs.