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LAGUNA, Philippines – In a booming town like Los Baños, Laguna, there is growing concern among residents for comprehensive health care institutions and reliable water sources — needs that voters want their next set of leaders to finally provide.
There are still no public hospitals in Los Baños. The closest one is in the neighboring municipality of Bay, the Laguna Provincial Hospital (LPH)-Bay District, but cannot meet the medical demands of the district which has a population of over 3.3 million.
There are also concerns about the Laguna Water District Aquatech Resources Corporation (LARC), the town’s main water provider, in relation to water quality and supply, as well as the health of Laguna Lake.
Still no public hospital in sight
When asked about her most urgent concern as a Los Baños resident and voter, a 56-year-old fruit vendor in Barangay Batong Malake did not miss a beat and answered, “Magkaroon ng sariling public hospital ang Los Baños (For Los Baños to have its own public hospital).”
Reelectionist Mayor Anthony “Ton” Genuino’s attempt to address this concern is through an ambulatory clinic. Breaking ground about two years ago, the clinic has yet to open, but they claim it will happen “soon.”
As part of his campaign for reelection, Genuino released a tour video of the health care facility, showing that it is nearly ready. It will be offering services for asthma control, hypertension control, hydration of diarrhea patients, minor surgical procedures, maternal and newborn care, initial management of emergency cases, and referral and transfer of complicated medical cases.
However, unlike a hospital, a clinic can only provide primary medical care for the growing rural population.
“Kasi kapag may nagkakasakit ang punta ay either sa Sta. Cruz or Batangas City. Kasi ‘yun yung talagang public [hospital] na may gamit eh, dito naman wala talaga. Private talaga ang mga hospital dito so malaking gastos,” added the vendor, who requested anonymity.
(Because when someone gets sick they have to either travel to Sta. Cruz or Batangas City. Those are places with public hospitals that are actually equipped, since here there’s really nothing. Hospitals here are privately-owned so you have to spend more.)
Lourain Suarez, a 21-year-old resident of Barangay Maahas, said that the Laguna Provincial Hospital does not have enough equipment, staff, and beds.
“So kung wala sila noon, paano pa nila ma-a-accommodate ‘yung mga tao from Los Baños?” she asked. (So if they don’t have those, how are they going to accommodate the patients from Los Baños?)
In May 2024, however, Laguna 2nd District Representative Ruth Hernandez’s bill seeking to establish a tertiary level general hospital in Bay, Laguna, was enacted. If completed, this is going to be Laguna’s first tertiary level hospital and may help alleviate the comprehensive health care needs of nearby communities.
For now, the health care hardships of the average Los Bañense continue.
“Sa Maahas kasi, merong mga bata d’un na may autism and cerebral palsy…pero kasi wala masyadong program for them, or kahit man lang sustenance for them para mabigay ‘yung mga basic need na hindi nila kayang kuhanin. Kunyari ‘yung mga checkup, ‘yung mga MRI and stuff like that, mas sa big hospitals sila pumunta like sa Batangas,” explained Suarez.
(In Barangay Maahas, there are kids with autism and cerebral palsy but there are hardly any programs for them, or even just sustenance for them so they can be given basic needs that they can’t provide for themselves. For example, for medical checkups like MRI and stuff like that, they need to travel to big hospitals like in Batangas.)
Water shortage in a spring town
Also high on the list of voter concerns are clean and consistent water supply. In early 2024, concerning levels of arsenic were detected in Los Baños’ groundwater, prompting local experts to gather and address the problem.
Fortunately, the contamination was reported to have been contained in November of that year upon the establishment of the P10-million Umali Coagulation Treatment Station in Barangay Batong Malake. Still, concerns over weak and unreliable water supply from concessionaire LARC persist in various barangays.
“Sa water supplies, alam kong marami pa ring nawawalan once in a while ng tubig talaga so sa LARC talaga ‘yun. Siguro kailangan i-address na makipag-coordinate na rin ‘yung mga awtoridad para maisaayos na ‘yun kasi it’s been a long time na nagsa-struggle ‘yung mga residents in water supply,” said Maryrose Alingasa, a resident from Barangay San Antonio.
(In terms of water supply, I know that many are still experiencing water interruption once in a while, and that’s really on LARC. Maybe it’s time to address and have the authorities coordinate to resolve it because residents have been struggling with water supply issues for a long time.)
In relation to this, the four Los Baños mayoral candidates for the 2025 elections agreed to separate from LARC. They expressed this sentiment in a fast talk hosted by Bantay Halalan Laguna 2025 and Dito sa Laguna.
In June 2024, the Bay municipal government filed a complaint before the Local Water Utilities Administration for the unreliable water supply services of LARC.
Laguna Lake deterioration
Los Baños residents are also concerned about the deterioration of Laguna Lake, a source of livelihood of lakeside communities.
“Since isa ‘yung Los Baños sa mga municipalities around Laguna Lake, very kitang-kita kasi siya kapag pumunta ka doon mismo sa may lakeside, so halata na talagang nagde-deteriorate na ‘yung quality ng water doon,” Alingasa said.
(Since Los Baños is one of the communities that surround Laguna lake, so it’s very visible, especially when you go to the lakeside itself, it’s so obvious that the water quality is deteriorating.)
Data from the Laguna Lake Development Authority revealed that fecal coliform levels in the lake are exceeding safety levels. This threatens public health of nearby communities, as well as the lake’s biodiversity which, in turn, threatens the livelihood of fisherfolk who mainly rely on the lake’s bounty.
The municipality is also ramping up its infrastructure-led development along the lake. With the Laguna Lakeshore Road Network Project Phase II that hits the municipality, currently conducting its feasibility study. This further raises concerns about the lake’s health.
With only two days left before the 2025 elections, Los Baños voters are hoping that those who are elected would address these concerns. – Rappler.com
Princess Leah Sagaad is a campus journalist studying Development Communication at the University of the Philippines Los Baños. She is the associate managing editor for short-form reporting of Tanglaw, and an Aries Rufo Fellowship candidate from April-May 2025.
