Background Information
The MMG-PPC Cooperative Hospital now known as Palawan Medical Mission Group Multipurpose Cooperative (PMMGMPC) Hospital is owned and managed by its members whose aim is to provide affordable health services to its members and to the community through cooperatively owned hospital, clinics and diagnostic centers.
It is a member of MMG Federation whose mandate is to support and complement the business activities of the chapters through education and advisory work, coordination and networking of the activities of its member-cooperatives while taking advantage of the economy scale. (Edwina Tan, November 2015)
History of the Hospital
In April of 1993, Dr. Jose “Ting” M. Tiongco, the founder of the first health cooperative in Mindanao, visited Puerto Princesa City where he met Dr. John Mendoza and introduced the idea of a health cooperative. Dr. Mendoza through the help of some medical professionals in Puerto Princesa gathered and discussed the possibility of a health cooperative in the area. In October of the same year, Dr. Mendoza together with his wife, Mrs. Zenaida Mendoza, decided to go to Davao City to meet up with Dr. Tiongco.
In 1996, a health cooperative was established in Palawan. An infirmary was created in a rented place at the old seminary building in Puerto Princesa City. This health cooperative was designed after the existing cooperative in Mindanao wherein it is a business entity owned by the community and established to meet their needs adequately by pooling their resources. The health cooperative is owned jointly by the Health Care Providers (Medical and Auxiliary) all over the Philippines.
In 1998, to take advantage of the cooperative principle of Economy of Scale, Medical Mission Group – Puerto Princesa Chapter (MMG-PPC) Cooperative Hospital joined the 23 primary health cooperatives to form a secondary cooperative, a Federation, nationwide. (Tiongco, 2015)
In September 21, 1998, MMG-PPC Hospital was officially recognized by the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) as a Cooperative.
The PMMGMPC Hospital is serving to about 10-15% of its total population and that it is serving almost all types of medical problems considering that we have in the hospital the most complete laboratory facility, equipped hospital facility and the medical staff organization having almost all medical, dental as well as physical therapist specialties.
In 2001 a 1,300 sq. m piece of land was bought intended for the construction of a one (1) story 25-bed hospital building with offices. The construction of the old hospital building was finished and inaugurated on July 1, 2001. In 2010, a 3,600 square meter lot adjacent to the old building was procured. Then on the third quarter of 2011, another lot, 2,400 sq. m, at the back of the old hospital building was acquired. This lot is now the location of the three Storey hospital building. The new two-story hospital building was inaugurated April 8, 2013. With its completion, the hospital now had a total of 80 hospital beds and in Level 1 category as approved by the Department of Health.
In 2015, the hospital was able to complete its laboratory service with bacteriology and aphaeresis as its latest possession which has contributed to the modernization of our laboratory, Level 3 Laboratory, to be of better service to our patients as well as the residents of Palawan.
In October 2018, the CDA approved the changing of tradename from MMG-PPC Cooperative Hospital to Palawan Medical Mission Group Multipurpose Cooperative Hospital.
The Board of Directors, the CEO and the management of PMMGMPC Hospital has a big responsibility toward its members to secure its finances.
In February 17, 2020, the Department of Health approved the hospital as a Level 2, with 120-bed hospital, a PhilHealth Accredited as Center for Safety.
The PMMGMPC Hospital Vision: “A world class health care provider that recognizes health as basic human right”. Puerto Princesa City and Palawan being a tourist destination in the country caters not only the Palaweňo’s but foreign nationals as well. The hospital is continuously upgrading its services to be able to offer the best medical services of world class quality.
It’s Mission: “Accessible, affordable, quality and sustainable health care delivery system to all”. PMMGMPC Hospital offers medical services of reasonable value at its best quality.
The Cooperative Tagline: “We care for life”. The PMMGMPC Hospital tenders the utmost supervision to the patients who comes to the institution seeking for medical assistance.
Site Description
The PMMGMPC hospital is located in Puerto Princesa City which lies in the heart of long and narrow island Province of Palawan. It is approximately 306 nautical miles from Manila, 206 to Panay Island and about 250 to Zamboanga. Puerto Princesa is considered one of the largest cities in the country with a land area of 253,982 hectares or 2,539.82 square kilometers stretching over 106 kilometers with its narrowest breadth of 8.5 kilometers at Barangay Bahile. Apportioned to 66 barangays of which 35 are urban while 31 rural.
Puerto Princesa City, the only highly urbanized city in the region posted a population of 255 thousand. Puerto Princesa City posted a PGR of 2.62 percent from 2010 to 2015.
It is the least densely populated city in the Philippines. In terms of land area, the city is the second largest geographically after Davao City with an area of 2,381.02 square kilometers (919.32 sq mi). Puerto Princesa is the location of the Philippines’ Western Command headquarters. (Sea Tensions Deepen with China’s Rise June 7, 2012)
