President’s Speech at Formal Contract Signing
for the UP-PGH FMAB Project, 18 June 2009


Faced with a project of this dimension is not quite new to our organization. We always believe that difficult things take a long time, the impossible takes a little longer. After 25 years the impossible is now possible.

Being a community based provincial health provider, we are always looking at ways to be relevant. Our market is not as big and complex as Metro Manila, but we have a vision of providing the best and most affordable healthcare services. When the opportunity to bid on the FMAB project came about, we had some apprehension because we know we are relatively unknown beyond Batangas. It is very clear in our minds however, that this is an opportunity to be more relevant. The chance to be a partner of the best medical institution in the country to improve the life of Filipinos through expert medical care.

We believe that we can provide the infrastructure and processes quite insulated from the rigors of government bureaucracy that would allow UP PGH doctors to do what they do best, providing the best medical care. We propose to be the bridge with alumni here and abroad for cooperation and ventures that would otherwise be restricted because of some commercial interests. We believe that profitable medicine does not redound to bad medicine, but instead lead to a sustainable professional growth by providing the very expensive equipment upgrades, information technology infrastructure and attractive physical space. We may not be a big industry player, but the fact that we are betting our house is an indication of our commitment and when we are committed to something we accept no excuse, only results.

We would like to acknowledge the Chancellor, Dr. Ramon Arcadio, The College of Medicine Dean, Dr. Alberto Roxas and the PGH Director, Dr. Carmelo Alfiler, whose collective persistence will make the FMAB a reality under their watch, something their predecessors tried unsuccessfully. We hope to follow Dr. Alfiler’s lead in ISO certifying PGH, being an attached medical unit. We would like to acknowledge Atty Lizette Pulumbarit and Atty Zaldy Docena for working out a contract that provided equitable protection to both parties. We would like to acknowledge Dr. Lawas, FMAB Management Team Chairman and the whole FMAB management team, who will be our main partner in day to day operations, for sharing our vision with the end in mind of providing advanced medical care to a broad segment of Filipino middle class who otherwise cannot afford it. We acknowledge Dr. Serafin Hilvano, President of the FMAB Faculty Association, for his whole hearted support, convincing our faculty of the long term economic and professional e benefits of the project. As of today we have a total of 277 faculty signing up to hold clinics. Finally of course, we would like to thank President Emerlinda Roman and the Board of Regent for trusting our capability to operate the FMAB to the fullest potential possible.

As Sir Winston Churchill stated after victory of the Allied Forces in North Africa, “This is not the end. This is not the beginning of the end. But it is perhaps the end of the beginning”. Thank you very much and we hope to see you in the ground breaking and the final realization of the project with the Inauguration.

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Dr. Edwin M. Mercado's Speech
During the 2nd Doctors’ Recognition Night, 14 November 2009
The Bellevue, Alabang, Muntinlupa

Magandang gabi po sa inyong lahat!
Tonight, we celebrate our 2nd Doctors’ Recognition Night. One year has come and gone so fast amidst a flurry of activities. We have faced many difficulties this past year attributed primarily to the global economic downturn, as well as to natural calamities and other man-made phenomena.

But, I believe that behind every difficulty is a golden opportunity just waiting to be tapped. Despite the challenges we face, DMMC has chosen to focus on the opportunities that present themselves to us. We initiated moves towards long term efficiency and growth by concentrating on capacity building. The initiatives were all a product of a careful study by our Quality Improvement Teams or QIT’s through extensive time and motion studies, process flow analysis and policy reviews. The end in mind is to improve our efficiencies and effectiveness in order to enhance the patient experience.

We are currently improving our facilities having just recently finished with our exterior facade renovation. We have also commenced in uplifting our patient rooms and are in the process of finalizing the design of the renovation of the Heart, Pulmo, Ultrasound, Mammo stations. Soon to follow will be the renovation of the hospital rooms to complete our upgrade project.

Part of our commitment to provide up-to-date diagnostic and therapeutic services, we have recently installed PACS in our radiology department. This will be supported by the continuous upgrading of our IT infrastructure.

Equally important is our people management thrust by organizing Quality Improvement Teams to enable us to deliver the best service to our patients. Involving the employees in the enhancement of patient service improved the implementation of the quality improvement projects as the employees take ownership of the improvements we have introduced.

During the past year, we have also achieved new milestones. We successfully conducted our First Emergency Medicine Post Graduate Course which was so well received we packed the whole Linda Pe function hall in no time. And, while we expected to encounter setbacks along the way, we are happy to let you know that building the University Physicians Medical Center is now back on line. This P 500-M mammoth project could not have been made possible without your contributions. It was through our Kabisig Spirit that we have risen above these challenges.

We also take pride in seeing the same Kabisig Spirit manifest in you, our DMMC doctors in pursuing our vision of providing excellent medical care by espousing core values towards providing affordable, quality total wellness. We have leveled up on this thrust to nurture these core values when we commenced with the “DMMC C.A.R.E.S.” Program, a continually evolving program that aims to instill in all team members the virtues of Courtesy, Attentiveness, Respect, Expertise and Safety & Security. Expertise in the CARES Program is best spelled out with the expertise of the doctors at the core of our treasure chest of talents. Recently a UAI (usage, attitude and image) study was conducted among DMMC and non-DMMC customers. This study was conducted under the supervision of an AIM marketing guru. The study revealed how important is the word or instructions of the doctors to the patients. In the same research, DMMC placed high in top-of-mind brand awareness even among non-users. This ‘Voice of the Customer’ feedback on ly present the brand equity that DMMC and you the doctors share in this market. To the majority of the respondents, coming to DMMC has become a habit – to their words: “simula’t sapul, ditto na kami sa Mercado’. These are verbatim words that serve a testament to the strong relationship DMMC and you, our doctors have established with our market.

As promised, recognizing the doctors’ contributions to the hospital will not be a one-time affair. Last year, we gave due recognition to pioneering doctors of the hospital through the Kabisig Awards. Kabisig means arms-in arms. Therefore, the Kabisig Award will be continually given to all doctors who have dedicated themselves for the cause of this institution through the years. Without a doubt, active consultants of DMMC for at least ten years deserve to receive this award. The more Kabisig Doctors we have, the more we can achieve. Ang sabi pa nga nila “the more, the merrier”.

Let us keep our Kabisig Spirit burning. Thank you and enjoy the evening.

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