METRO PACIFIC Health Corp. (MPH), the healthcare arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), has accomplished its investment in First United 23, Inc., the operator of two hospitals in Batangas, expanding its nationwide network to 31 hospitals.
The transaction marks MPH’s 19th and 20th provincial hospital partnerships and its first in Batangas, completing the corporate’s presence within the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) region.
“We’re deeply grateful for the continuing trust of hospital owners and doctors nationwide who’ve chosen to partner with Metro Pacific Health… Their confidence enables us to further develop and expand healthcare services of their respective communities,” MPH President Augusto “Augie” Palisoc, Jr. said in a press release on Tuesday.
First United 23 owns and operates United Doctors of St. Camillus de Lellis Hospital and Medical Center (UDCMC) and United Doctors of St. Camillus de Lellis Mabini General Hospital (UDCMGH).
UDCMC is positioned along Diversion Road in Bolbok, Batangas City, while UDCMGH is the one private hospital within the municipality of Mabini, serving local residents and visitors to nearby tourist destinations, including Anilao.
Ferdinand Moraleja, a founding member and former president of the hospitals, said the partnership is meant to support the continued development of the 2 healthcare institutions.
MPH said it plans to integrate the 2 hospitals into its network and implement operational and clinical improvements based on practices adopted across its existing facilities.
Following the investment, MPH’s network comprises 11 hospitals within the National Capital Region, 12 in Luzon, two within the Visayas, and 6 in Mindanao.
Its portfolio includes Makati Medical Center, Asian Hospital and Medical Center, Cardinal Santos Medical Center, Davao Doctors Hospital, and Riverside Medical Center in Bacolod.
In accordance with MPH, its 31 hospitals have a combined capability of about 4,800 beds and are supported by roughly 12,500 doctors and 24,000 healthcare personnel, serving around 5.2 million patients annually.
MPIC is one in every of the three principal Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., alongside Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT Inc.
Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of the PLDT Useful Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls. — Alexandria Grace C. Magno

