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| (L-R): Dr. Rhodora Rivera of Edwin Andrews Air Base, District Medical Director Dr. Rossana Arquiza, Niña Jean Pagotaisidro representing Congressman Jerry Perez, City Health Officer Dr. Dulce Miravite, Putik Barangay Chairman Geronimo Lao, Kaiser Adan Olaso representing City Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso, SM Foundation Executive Director for Health and Medical Programs Ms. Connie Angeles, SM Foundation Executive Director for Education Programs Ms. Ms. Linda Atayde, and SM City Mindpro Mall Manager Aileen Ann Villa-Enriquez during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. |
Zamboanga
City – SM
Foundation formally turned over the newly rehabilitated Putik Health Center to
the Zamboanga City government, reinforcing its commitment to accessible and
quality primary healthcare for residents of Barangay Putik.
Serving a
population of 23,247 as of 2025, the health center has been a vital frontline
facility since the early 1990s. Its rehabilitation upgrades the facility to
better deliver consultations, treatment, free medicines when available,
immunization, nutrition programs, maternal and family planning services,
tuberculosis treatment, non-communicable disease monitoring, and infectious
disease surveillance.
The
ribbon-cutting ceremony highlighted strong public-private partnership, with
representatives of City Mayor Khymer Adan Olaso and Congressman Jerry Perez in
attendance, alongside SM Foundation executives led by Ms. Connie Angeles,
Executive Director for Health and Medical Programs, and Ms. Linda Atayde, Executive
Director for Education Programs. They were joined by SM City Mindpro Mall
Manager Aileen Ann Villa-Enriquez, City Health Officer Dr. Dulce Miravite,
District Medical Director Dr. Rossana Arquiza, Dr. Rhodora Rivera of Edwin
Andrews Air Base, and Barangay Chairman Geronimo Lao.
During
the ceremony, Angeles shared that the facility is the 226th SM Foundation
Wellness Center and the 91st community health center supported nationwide. She
emphasized that beyond upgrading infrastructure, the initiative aims to improve
healthcare delivery and support health workers, with continued maintenance
assistance from SM Foundation and SM malls in Zamboanga.
The turnover forms part of SM Foundation’s Health and Medical Program, which has supported more than 200 health centers nationwide, benefiting over seven million patients. For Barangay Putik, the renewed facility stands as a symbol of strengthened partnership and a continued commitment to community health in Zamboanga City.
