THE MANILA City Health Department has clarified that the yearly health permit remains mandatory, contrary to earlier reports claiming immediate changes to its implementation.
In an interview on April 14, Dr. Grace Padilla, the city health officer, said the existing policy allows UST faculty to do their laboratory exams at UST Hospital, but they are still required to submit the results to the city health office.
The health office, however, is proposing amendments to the 2022 city ordinance that originally imposed the health permit. This will allow the permit submission to coincide with employees’ annual physical examination and make it “non-redundant,” she said.
“‘Yong previous kasi…at the start of the year, magpapa-medical in that particular laboratory under the City of Manila. Ngayon, we revised that to make it coincide with the annual examination,” Padilla told the Varsitarian.
An earlier report claimed that the Manila health permit policy will apply only to new applicants and to specific sectors.
The existing UST policy has been aligned with city health regulations, requiring tenured faculty to undergo an annual physical examination during their birthday month and submit the results via the city’s Go Manila app to obtain the required yearly health permit electronically.
Non-tenured faculty are required to obtain the health permit during the first quarter of every year and pay for their lab exams.
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Under the existing policy, medical results are submitted to the city’s health certificate validation office, which will then generate the corresponding health permit.
The health permit will remain valid for one year and will expire on the holder’s birthday the following year, Padilla said.
“Ang expiration ng ating health certificate is during your birthday. Doon ka ulit magpa-medical. So whatever the result of the UST [employee], it will be forwarded to our health certificate validation office para doon mag-generate ng health certificate,” Padilla said.
The proposed amendment to the city ordinance will make it clear that employees may do their medical examinations at their company facilities – UST Hospital in the case of the University.
Padilla said amendments to the health ordinance may be released as early as June, noting that the proposals had passed the city’s health board.
No official document has been issued as the measure is still under review by the city’s legal office.
“Ang first step talaga natin is the local health board. At least naipasa tayo sa approval ng local health board. And then we’re in the process of amending that. Dumadaan pa ito sa city legal natin kasi any amendment sa ordinance, dadaan lahat ‘yon sa city legal natin,” she said.
The Manila health permit ordinance gained national spotlight in 2024 after faculty members were required to obtain the certificates under City Ordinance 8793 and undergo lab exams using city facilities.
During his 2025 campaign, Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso pledged to amend City Ordinance 8793 should he be re-elected.
The health ordinance was signed by Domagoso on April 6, 2022, during his first term.
Representatives from various UST labor groups visited Manila City Hall on April 14 for a courtesy call with Domagoso.
These include UST Faculty Union President Emerito Gonzales, Samahang Manggagawa ng UST President Dan Patricio, Ugnayan ng Nagkakaisang Manggagawa–UST Hospital President Donell Siazon, and Council of Teachers and Staff of Colleges and Universities of the Philippines representative Rene Tadle.
Editor’s Note: This story was edited to rearrange certain paragraphs for clarity.
