The West Central Philippine Union Mission is preparing to expand its health ministry in Western Visayas, Philippines.

Holy Mary Hospital currently operates as a private healthcare institution and will transition to operate as Adventist Hospital Iloilo, with Bacolod Adventist Medical Center providing management and institutional experience.

The development will establish an Adventist-operated hospital in Iloilo and open a new avenue for the church to provide professional healthcare and compassionate ministry to communities across the province and neighboring areas.

Representatives said the development carries particular significance for Seventh-day Adventists on Panay Island, where the church has maintained a presence for more than a century. Generations of pastors, missionaries, and church members have established congregations and ministries across the island. The addition of a health care institution expands that legacy into a ministry that can serve people regardless of religious background, said representatives.

In announcing the development on his social media account, Mamerto Guingguing, president of the West Central Philippine Union Mission, described the hospital as a significant milestone in the history of the Adventist Church on Panay Island.

“A century of Adventism in Panay Island is now beautifully enshrined with an extension of Christ’s healing ministry through this sanctuary of healing,” Guingguing wrote in a social media post announcing the development. “To God be the glory!”

Guingguing also expressed gratitude to leaders of the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD), General Conference, and the church members whose prayers supported efforts to establish an Adventist hospital in Iloilo.

“Our hearts are overflowing with gratitude to God our Father for this blessing,” he wrote.

Through the new institution, the church seeks to serve individuals and families during some of their most vulnerable moments while contributing to the community's broader health needs.

The announcement comes as the Adventist Church across the SSD region prepares for OneVoice27, a global movement encouraging members, churches, and institutions to share the gospel message. Its public-facing campaign, All Things New, carries the message, “Hope Starts Here.”

Representatives said the connection reflects a broader vision for the new institution: that its mission will extend beyond providing medical treatment to creating a place where people can experience hope through compassionate service and Christ-centered care.

As preparations for the transition continue, Adventists across the region are praying for the hospital’s employees, medical professionals, patients, and surrounding communities.

The original article was published on the Southern-Asia Pacific Division news site.