AC Health has expanded its support in Valenzuela City following an equipment donation from Ayala Corporation. The donation equips BRIDGE, the city’s specialized early intervention program for children aged zero to five.
The initiative builds on the existing partnership between Valenzuela City and AC Health’s hospital and clinics arm, Healthway Medical Network. BRIDGE stands for Bridging Referrals, Interventions, Diagnosis, Guidance and Early Detection. The turnover ceremony at Valenzuela City Hall also included the ceremonial signing of a memorandum of agreement.
Strengthening Early Intervention
The equipment includes an audiometer, pediatric walkers and standing frames, balancing and sensory equipment, learning and play materials, communication boards, kits and test forms, and a TalkTools therapist kit for speech and oral-motor therapy.
BRIDGE is an educational and developmental track that helps young learners with special needs move between stages of learning and prepares them for mainstream academic, social, and functional environments. It works alongside the Valenzuela Special Education (ValSPED) Center’s offerings for children above five, such as early developmental delay intervention, rehabilitation, speech therapy, and language enrichment. ValSPED learners are supported by a multidisciplinary team of physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, and specialized educators funded by the Valenzuela City government.
A temporary BRIDGE facility opens this month at Barangay Marulas to begin serving children immediately. In 2027, the official BRIDGE facility will be located within the ValHealth Ambulatory Surgical Center in Barangay Paso de Blas, the city’s new outpatient and surgical facility.
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Building on a Growing Partnership
The donation is the latest step in AC Health’s work with Valenzuela City through Healthway Medical Network, which began as a public-private partnership to expand access to lifesaving dialysis and cancer care.
Through Healthway QualiMed Hospital San Jose del Monte, Healthway equipped and now operates the city’s 15-station Hemodialysis Center, which opened in December 2025 inside the Valenzuela City Emergency Hospital. The center can provide an average of 350 hemodialysis treatments a month, bringing lifesaving care closer to home for Valenzuelanos. The partnership also supported the upgrade of the emergency hospital.
The collaboration is set to expand to the ValHealth Ambulatory Surgical Center, which will offer outpatient care and chemotherapy services to more patients in the city. The partnership was named Public-Private Healthcare Partnership of the Year at the Healthcare Asia Awards earlier this year.
Leading the ceremonial equipment turnover for the Bridging Referrals, Interventions, Diagnosis, Guidance and Early Detection (BRIDGE) program are Ayala Corporation Chief Social Infrastructure Officer Paolo Borromeo (third from left), Valenzuela City Mayor Wes Gatchalian (second from left), and AC Health Group President and CEO Dr. Num Tanthuwanit (right).
A Shared Commitment to Early Childhood Development
Paolo Borromeo, Chief Social Infrastructure Officer of Ayala Corporation, thanked Mayor Wes Gatchalian for the city’s strong partnership with Ayala and AC Health, which has expanded access to healthcare services and strengthened Valenzuela’s local health system.
“Early detection and timely intervention are critical in helping every child reach their full potential. This initiative also builds on our broader partnership with Valenzuela City, where AC Health has been working with the local government to expand access to healthcare services and strengthen the local health system,” Borromeo said.
“Through Alagang Ayala and AC Health, we look forward to building on this partnership so that more children and families can benefit from the care and opportunities they deserve,” he added.
Observed every November in the Philippines, National Children’s Month highlights the importance of protecting children’s rights, promoting their well-being, and ensuring access to opportunities that support their growth and development. Initiatives such as BRIDGE underscore the value of early intervention and collaborative efforts in helping children with developmental needs reach their full potential.
*This article is a corporate social responsibility and healthcare partnership announcement.
