Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto addressed the following points during this week’s flag-raising ceremony:

00:01-00:13: Vico Sotto greeted everyone with a good morning, after which he acknowledged the presence of City officials who attended the flag-raising ceremony, as well as the City Health Department, as the host of the ceremony.

00:14-00:27: Mayor Vico shared that he looks forward to seeing everyone at the upcoming Oral Health Fun Run on February 21, 2026. He jokingly added that everyone should be smiling all the way to the finish line, which will be a maximum of five kilometers.

00:28-02:41: Pasig City’s Progress Towards Universal Health Care

- Mayor Vico thanked the guests from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) who joined the flag-raising ceremony.

- He proudly shared that the majority of health centers in Pasig City are already YAKAP-accredited. He explained that under the PhilHealth YAKAP Program, members are entitled to consultations, diagnostics, and more than 70 maintenance medicines, with the number expected to increase in the future.

- He clarified that, in terms of access to medicines, the number of YAKAP-accredited pharmacies is also increasing—not only within Pasig City but also outside the city.

- Mayor Vico assured everyone that the City Government is doing its part to ensure that Pasig City continues to progress toward Universal Health Care (UHC). He explained that UHC is a national framework backed by law under the Universal Health Care Act (Republic Act No. 11223). This is also a priority of the City Government of Pasig, making the city one of the local government units leading the implementation of this reform.

- He added that, in terms of primary health care facilities, almost all barangay health centers are already accredited under PhilHealth YAKAP. As such, residents only need to register for the program. Citizens may inquire at their respective barangay health centers, at the Pasig City Sports Center (the City’s temporary health facility), or at other facilities where they receive their primary health care.

- Mayor Vico emphasized that the City will continue its efforts, noting that new health centers are set to open in Brgy. San Jose and in E. Santos, Brgy. Pinagbuhatan. He also shared that more facilities are currently being constructed or renovated, all of which are prioritized in Pasig City’s infrastructure project lineup. He reiterated that Pasig City remains steadfast in moving toward Universal Health Care, with preventive health care as its most important component.

02:42-02:52: Mayor Vico concluded his speech by thanking everyone and wishing them a good morning. He also added that dental health care is an integral part of primary health care.

To watch the full video of the flag-raising ceremony, click this link: https://bit.ly/2026_FlagCeremonyFeb16