Rising to the Challenge: Laurence Navarro’s Leadership Journey

For Laurence Navarro, entering the healthcare field was not a career decision but a personal connection to her family. Navarro, whose sister is a doctor, was inspired to follow a similar path by completing a Nursing degree.  

Faced with high maternal and infant mortality rates, limited healthcare staff, and the challenges of reaching remote areas, Laurence found her passion in public health. These obstacles strengthened her resolve to make a difference in the lives of others.

Laurence tackled the shortage of healthcare workers by advocating for better staffing and implementing training programs. Securing funding for health infrastructure improvements required building strong relationships with government officials and stakeholders. Despite these challenges, she found motivation in seeing the commitment of health workers and the unity of local leaders working toward better health services.

In 2016, Laurence became Nurse V and joined the Department of Health (DOH)-Ilocos, where she helped implement Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF)’s Health Leadership and Governance Program. Her efforts led to four provinces completing the program, uniting local leaders to prioritize health in their communities.

For Navarro, seeing mayors and municipal health workers acknowledge the importance of health in their communities during these programs was truly rewarding. These initiatives helped create a united group of health leaders to drive positive change in the Ilocos region.   

Leading Universal Health Care (UHC)

Implementing the Universal Healthcare (UHC) Law in 2019 was met with joy by those working in the public health sector. It marked a moment for Navarro and her colleagues in the region. UHC’s main objective is to provide health coverage to all Filipinos by addressing fragmentation in the local health systems, improving services and reducing out-of-pocket expenses—aspirations that align well with Navarro’s personal vision for her community.  

When she assumed the position of UHC Coordinator for the Ilocos Region in 2021, she initially experienced uncertainty and questioned her abilities. Could she handle the transition? As it turned out, she proved herself capable and her commitment to serving others remained steadfast. 

To help accelerate UHC implementation, DOH-Ilocos partnered again with ZFF, its long-time partner in public health leadership and governance through the Bayang Malusog program. The program provided leadership training, technical inputs, and coaching and mentoring sessions for regional and provincial leaders to improve UHC implementation.  

As the region’s UHC Coordinator, Navarro played a role in ensuring her region’s participation in UHC initiatives, which meant leading dialogues that initiated reforms that help enhance the skills of healthcare professionals, establish integrated financing methods, and improve healthcare services. 

Now in its final year of implementing the Bayang Malusog Leadership Development Program, DOH-Ilocos through Navarro, has proudly taken charge of coaching and providing technical assistance to the different provinces on UHC. To date, together with the regional UHC team, she has led the monitoring and mentoring of provinces on UHC’s Local Health Systems Maturity Level (LHS-ML), a set of metrics for the different provinces in tracking the requisites of a province-wide health system that is aligned to what is necessary for the UHC to be fully delivered to the people.  

“The program led the leaders to understand more about health, making them more attuned to the needs of the community. They realized that providing more than just infrastructure is crucial for their constituents’ well-being,” reflected Navarro.         

Inspired by this progress, Ilocos continues collaborating with local government units working on expanding health initiatives, introducing strategies to tackle emerging health issues, and continuing to enhance the skills of local healthcare leaders and workers. 

Inspiring Change

Laurence Navarro’s leadership journey shows the power of collaboration and resilience in public health. Her story is a testament to how governance, community engagement, and advocacy can bring universal healthcare closer to reality.

With compassion and strategic vision, Laurence continues to inspire positive change for her region, ensuring a healthier future for all.