History

A story to be told, a vision to unfold..

The desire to help begins in the heart. The dream to heal belongs to but a few. A man…a dream… a heart that wanted to make difference.
This is where our story begins…the Daniel O. Mercado Medical Center.

Orphaned as a boy, Daniel Opulencia Mercado was no stranger to challenge. When he graduated Salutatorian in high school, he inspired his brothers and sisters to pool their resources to send him through Medicine at the University of the Philippines. He graduated in 1952 and immediately went to United States for an Internship at the Baltimore Casualty Hospital.

But he soon returned to Tanauan, eager to rediscover his roots and repay his blessings. In December 1957, he found the way he could give back to the community- Mercado Clinic, a 12-bed lying–in facility he opened with his wife Estella after being wed just a year.

From its foundation, Dr. Mercado was committed to giving his patients the best possible service… winning so many over that his volume of patients outstripped the available space within a few years.

By 1968, the Mercado Clinic was already one of the top 3 hospitals in Tanauan, with 11 rooms, and had to hire more people.

The Mercado Clinic had made many friends for life in Tanauan, and it was about to grow into a full-pledged family.

Helping hands run in families. Dr. Mercado’s sons and daughters followed him into the medical profession and before long, they were ready to take over clinical and administrative functions at the hospital.


In 1988, the nest grew… Dr. Mercado expanded his clinic into a general hospital- with 25 beds and newer facilities – and renamed it the Mercado General Hospital. He also began inviting other specialists in the fields of medicine and surgery to join the new hospital.



With unflagging commitment, Dr. Mercado paved the way for more innovation in caring for his beloved community. By 1994, the hospital was computerized and by 1996, the Mercado General Hospital was a corporation, the first hospital in Tanauan to achieve this. As even more doctors were invited, the hospital expanded to welcome its growing number of patients as it added even more up-to-date facilities and services.

Admission increased to between 60% and 70% annually as Mercado became a 50-bed secondary hospital with a 12 doctor clinic and full services – ultrasound, accounting, HMO, heart station, drug testing, pulmonary, and dietary.

A new ICU complex was added, along with physical rehabilitation equipment, endoscopy, CT- scan machines and a blood bank.

It was the year 2000. The world faced a new day and so did the Mercado General Hospital. There was the new Pediatric Intensive Unit… the new Industrial Unit for corporate clients… and of course, the new name: the Daniel O. Mercado Medical Center, in honor of its founder.

World- class was the word. The new DMMC was launched with the vision of becoming one of the best hospitals in the CALABARZON region, servicing a community that was also becoming more urbanized, with emerging global needs.

Now a 100-bed and full-service facility, the Daniel O. Mercado Medical Center is a tertiary hospital (level4) that aspires to rival key centers with state-of-the-art medical, surgical, diagnostic, and therapeutic facilities. On-call is nearly 100 well-trained doctors in 21 specialties, all dedicated professionals.

DMMC always skews toward innovation, changing in response to the needs of the times. In the immediate future, these changes will include: creating a customer culture to synergize the organization and its work processes; institutionalizing Total Quality Management as a way of life to anticipate world-class certification; expanding facilities and services to improve market competitiveness; introduction of specialty centers with special focus on wellness and lifestyle; establishment of satellite health care facilities in potential expansion areas of the community.



Neither will future generations forget. In 2003, the hospital opened its school, the DMMC Institute of Health Sciences that is dedicated to carrying on Dr. Mercado’s dream and passing the torch to young people who will bring hope to the future in their own way. With 5 Baccalaureate programs in core fields – Nursing Education, Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Radiologic Technology, it aims to become The School for Allied Health Professions in Calabarzon.

The dream of one man… the desire to help… the drive to make a difference. It doesn’t end here. This is only the beginning.

DMMC - Institute of Health Sciences  Aesthetic Surgical & Laser Center   Pro - Health Center   Industrial Clinic