Mayor Magalong Completes ‘Deep Dive’ to Assess Baguio Health System

Baguio City Mayor Benjamin Magalong stepped out of his usual executive role to participate in a ‘Deep Dive’ learning exercise, part of the Bayang Malusog Leadership and Governance Program of the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF), designed to give local leaders a grassroots perspective on the city’s health system.

Related articles:

• Baguio City Strengthens Health Finances for Universal Health Care
• ZFF Strengthens Primary Care to Advance UHC in Benguet and Baguio City
• Baguio City Advance Universal Health Plans

The Deep Dive, held on March 13, 2026, is an experiential process that moves leaders beyond theoretical briefings. It requires them to engage directly with the community in their own environments to observe conditions and foster a deeper understanding of health inequities, particularly among the underserved.

Mayor Magalong, accompanied by City Health Officer Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes and Barangay Irisan Chairman Arthur Carlos, began the morning with a pre-briefing before proceeding to a home visit in Irisan. There, the mayor met with a resident in their home, listening to personal health concerns and experiences with the city’s health services.

The process emphasizes intentional observation and suspending preconceived judgments. This means engaging with the citizen with “appreciation, curiosity, and wonder” to better understand the systemic barriers vulnerable populations face. While the mayor focused on this direct immersion, other members of the City Health Office simultaneously conducted a focused group discussion with the Hypertension and Diabetes (HPN and DM) Club in City Camp Central as part of the broader day’s activities.

The morning engagements were followed by an afternoon session of reflection and processing. During the synthesis, ZFF President Austere Panadero shared his key takeaways from the day’s discussions, emphasizing the need for strategic focus and better use of data.

“Ang dami pang opportunity for the health sector… Ang challenge ay, how would you know what determinant is affecting that family? In the past, kailangan mo pang mag-survey para makita mo ‘yun. Ngayon, mukhang hindi na, kasi kung nabuo mo ‘yung database mo, your system can execute that. Who needs help the most? Hindi na mahirap malaman ito,” Panadero said, pointing to Baguio’s existing smart city platform as a unique advantage.

The expected outcomes of the exercise are to strengthen the connection between city leadership and health stakeholders, and to inform more responsive decision-making for Baguio’s health system.