Cagayan Valley Governors Join Leadership Development Program for Universal Health Care

On September 17, 2024, Provincial Governors from the Cagayan Valley region (Region 2) came together at Citadines Bay Manila, Pasay City, for the Bayang Malusog Provincial Leadership Development Program’s (PLDP) first Executive Session for Governors. The event, hosted by the Department of Health (DOH)-Cagayan Valley, as part of Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF)’s Bayang Malusog Program, focused on aligning health visions towards the provinces’ accelerated implementation of the Universal Health Care Law. 

Governors Hon. Marilou Cayco of Batanes, Hon. Manuel Mamba of Cagayan, Hon. Jose Gambito of Nueva Vizcaya, their respective health teams, and representatives of Isabela participated in the 1-day activity.

The day began with a message from Dr. Amelita Pangilinan, DOH-Cagayan Valley Regional Director. She emphasized the importance of leadership in health governance. Dr. Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire, DOH Undersecretary, followed with a call to action. She discussed the challenges in UHC implementation, particularly in regions with difficult access to healthcare due to geography and lack of resources. “We must aspire for a future where every family can trust that healthcare is not a privilege, but a right,” she said, urging leaders to take a holistic approach in solving health issues.

Bayang Malusog PLDP: Setting the Stage. Dr. Jenilyn Ann V. Dabu, Program manager at ZFF, presented an overview of the Bayang Malusog PLDP. She explained that the program, running for one year, aims to help provincial leaders evaluate their health systems and accelerate UHC implementation. The training includes mentoring, technical assistance, and system redesign efforts, with a target of 100% organizational health system maturity and 50% functional maturity by the end of the program. “We hope these reforms will lead to better health outcomes,” Dr. Dabu said, encouraging the governors to look at health services all the way down to the barangay level.

Cagayan Valley’s UHC Journey. Mr. Janriel A. Lavadia, UHC Coordinator for Cagayan Valley, shared the region’s progress toward achieving UHC. He reported that all provinces in Region 2 are on the official list of UHC integration sites, ensuring no province is left behind. “Malayo pa pero malayo na ang narating ng Cagayan Valley,” he remarked. Despite challenges, the region has made headway in establishing management support units and expanding provincial health boards. “It’s important to celebrate small wins together,” Lavadia added.

Lessons from La Union. Governor Raphaelle Veronica Ortega-David of La Union shared her Deep Dive, a guided community immersion, as part of ZFF’s Bayang Malusog PLDP. They visited Barangay Bayabas of the Municipality of San Gabriel in La Union, and encountered the tragic story of a mother who died from giving birth in San Fernando City, an hour away from her town.  “Reflecting on my journey, it was a harsh revelation that a barangay was deprived of access to adequate healthcare,” Governor Ortega-David said, expressing her deep sense of responsibility to create a better, more responsive health system for her province. 

PhilHealth and UHC Financing. PhilHealth representatives, Walter Bacareza and Clementine Bautista, provided updates on UHC financing, emphasizing that under UHC, all Filipinos are covered. PhilHealth is working on contracting Health Care Provider Networks (HCPN) to deliver integrated services, ensuring that even remote areas have access to healthcare. They also explained the benefits of the HCPN, which includes enhanced outpatient services and easier access to medications, backed by a sustainable financing system through the Special Health Fund (SHF).

Pangasinan’s Commitment to UHC. Dr. Anna Maria Teresa De Guzman, Provincial Health Officer of Pangasinan, shared her province’s efforts in implementing UHC. With over 1,300 barangays, Pangasinan has enacted ordinances to institutionalize province-wide health systems and formalize their SHF. She shared the development of their UHC SHF Management Procedure Manual, which details the protocols in accessing the SHF.  She also  emphasized the importance of monitoring implementation to meet UHC goals, ensuring that even the most remote communities benefit from the health reforms. 

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The session ended with a look ahead to the next module of the Bayang Malusog PLDP. By then, the governors will have implemented their quick wins and begun taking steps toward improving health systems in their provinces, particularly for the poor and underserved. This event marked the first step in the journey toward making health care in Cagayan Valley more equitable, accessible, and truly universal.