A new partnership rooted in shared resilience and a common vision for public healthcare is taking shape between two of the Philippines' most dynamic provinces. Governor Lilia "Nanay" Pineda proposed a sisterhood agreement between Pampanga and Batangas following a successful health benchmarking visit by Batangas officials to Pampanga in early June 2026.
The proposal came after a delegation from the Batangas Provincial Health Office toured Pampanga's flagship medical programs, including the Zero Balance Billing Program, the country's first floating clinic, and the newly inaugurated Pampanga Provincial Hospital-Clark . Governor Pineda emphasized that both provinces share common goals of delivering accessible, efficient, and high-quality public services to their residents.
A Shared Vision for Healthcare and Beyond
Governor Pineda expressed her intent to formalize the partnership with Batangas Governor Hermilando "Dodi" Mandanas, who was represented by his wife, former Batangas Governor Vilma Santos-Recto, during the benchmarking visit . "Pareho kami ng vision ni Ate V. Talagang ang focus niya ay healthcare," Pineda said. "Ipo-propose ko kay Governor Vilma na magkaroon tayo ng sisterhood hindi lamang sa healthcare kundi pati sa iba pang aspeto ng pamamahala at pag-unlad".
The proposed agreement builds upon the shared resilience of both regions. Pampanga and Batangas have both successfully overcome major natural disasters in recent decades — Pampanga with the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in 1991, and Batangas with the eruption of Taal Volcano in 2020 . These experiences have shaped the provinces' capacity for disaster response, community rebuilding, and adaptive governance — lessons that can be shared and scaled through a formal partnership.
Key Innovations to Be Shared Under the Pact
The benchmarking visit highlighted several Pampanga healthcare innovations that could be adapted for Batangas . The Zero Balance Billing Program, a flagship initiative of the Pineda administration, provides accessible healthcare across Pampanga's 10 district hospitals and one provincial hospital, serving over 1.39 million Kapampangans with no out-of-pocket costs . The country's first floating clinic, the Kalingang Kapampangan Floating Clinic, delivers medical services to underserved coastal communities that are otherwise inaccessible by land. The newly inaugurated Pampanga Provincial Hospital-Clark, the first government hospital established inside the Clark Freeport Zone, adds modern diagnostic and inpatient capacity to the province's healthcare network.
Governor Pineda expressed optimism that collaboration and shared expertise would lead to more efficient and responsive governance for both provinces . The sisterhood agreement, once finalized, promises mutual benefits for residents of both provinces — not only in healthcare but also in other aspects of governance and development.
