Bridging Leadership in Action: Benguet’s Mayors Reaffirm Commitment to Universal Health Care Integration
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The province of Benguet renewed its commitment to building an integrated and people-centered local health system during the 2nd Universal Health Care (UHC) Conference held on October 14, 2025, at the Benguet Sports Complex in La Trinidad.
With the theme “All Feathers, One Fly: Integrating Systems for a Healthier Benguet,” the three-day event brought together health leaders and partners to strengthen collaboration and uphold the province’s shared vision of “health for all.”
The Provincial Health Office (PHO) led the activity, with participants from the Department of Health-Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CAR), Provincial DOH Office (PDOHO) Benguet, PhilHealth, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Benguet, and the Provincial Local Government Unit (PLGU) of Benguet. The Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) joined as a development partner supporting Benguet’s ongoing leadership journey in implementing Universal Health Care.
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Reaffirming Commitment and Shared Responsibility
The conference served as a space for Benguet’s municipal mayors to reaffirm their commitment to UHC integration and to strengthen their collective resolve to deliver accessible, equitable, and sustainable health services to their communities.
In her opening remarks, Provincial Health Officer II Dr. Meliarazon Dulay emphasized that the strength of the Health Care Provider Network (HCPN) lies in teamwork, “one cannot function alone.” She reminded everyone that UHC is not just a policy but a promise to ensure that no one is left behind, urging all partners to sustain their shared purpose and collaboration.
Leadership and Partnership for Sustainable Health Systems
Governor Melchor Diclas, a graduate of ZFF’s Provincial Leadership and Governance Program (PLGP), highlighted the continuing partnerships that strengthen Benguet’s UHC initiatives. He shared the province’s ongoing efforts to enhance health facilities and reiterated the importance of cooperation among municipalities and partners while awaiting the release of the Special Health Fund (SHF).
Governor Diclas said that Benguet’s health progress continues because of strong collaboration and shared ownership among leaders—proof that collective action drives a healthier province.
“Uray Bassit Basta Agtultuloy” (Continuing the Journey Together)
In her keynote address, DOH-CAR Regional Director Dr. Amelita Pangilinan, a graduate of ZFF’s Regional Leadership and Governance Program (RLGP), praised Benguet’s leaders for “choosing collaboration over isolation.” She noted that nine of the province’s 13 mayors are newly elected and have pledged their full support to continue the integration efforts started by their predecessors.
“Uray bassit basta agtultuloy. No matter how small the steps, what’s important is that we continue,” Dr. Pangilinan encouraged.
She shared three key messages inspired by ZFF’s Bridging Leadership approach:
- Health integration works best when it is people-centered. Systems must serve communities, not the other way around.
- Partnerships are our greatest resource. When stakeholders move in harmony, the impact multiplies.
- Sustainability begins with shared ownership. Real change happens when leaders co-own and co-integrate their health goals.
Dr. Pangilinan reminded everyone that UHC is not a distant goal but a shared journey, built one step, one partnership, and one act of service at a time.
Showcasing Local Good Practices
Rural Health Units (RHUs) from Atok, Bokod, Buguias, Mankayan, and Tuba also shared local good practices and innovations that contribute to Benguet’s Province-Wide Health System (PWHS). These stories show how each municipality contributes to a stronger, more responsive health system for Benguet.
Bridging Leadership in Benguet’s Health Journey
For Benguet, the 2nd UHC Conference was more than just an event, but a renewal of trust, partnership, and shared ownership among provincial and municipal leaders. It reflected how Benguet continues to apply the Bridging Leadership framework, a core principle of ZFF’s leadership programs that helps leaders recognize interconnectedness, build trust, and co-own health outcomes.
Both CAR and the Benguet Provincial Health Team, including Governor Diclas and Dr. Dulay, are graduates of ZFF’s leadership and governance programs. As UHC champions, they continue to show that sustainable health systems are built not by individual institutions, but by leaders and communities moving forward together.
Benguet’s UHC journey stands as a testament to the power of partnerships, perseverance, and shared responsibility, proving that meaningful change begins when everyone works hand in hand.
“Uray bassit basta agtultuloy.” Small steps, strong partnerships, and a shared vision for a healthier Benguet and a healthier Cordillera.