Regional Health Triumph: Dr. Sydiongco’s Leadership in Action

She’s driven by a singular mission: to grant Filipinos unfettered access to quality healthcare services. With unwavering determination, she ensures that her fellow leaders and teammates walk alongside her on this transformative journey.

Dr. Paula Paz Sydiongco, the Regional Director of the Department of Health (DOH)-Ilocos, seized an opportunity to engage with governors and the city mayor in the Ilocos Region to advance Universal Health Care (UHC) through the Bayang Malusog leadership training program by the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF). She capitalized on this opportunity through sustained meetings, courtesy calls, and coaching sessions with local chief executives. Additionally, she has been conducting regular technical working group sessions with provincial health officials and inter-agency cluster meetings for her team at the Ilocos Region Center for Health Development (CHD).

The result is a shared commitment to expedite the fulfillment of all UHC requirements. In 2023, the UHC maturity level in all UHC implementation sites (UIS) improved from the previous year. The provinces of Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, La Union, Pangasinan, and Dagupan City have reached 100% of the preparatory level key result areas. At the organizational level, the accomplishment of the five sites ranged from 72 to 86%, while at the functional level, Region 1 UIS attainment was between 25 and 70% of KRAs.

Sydiongco is encouraged by the governors’ receptiveness to her advice and has provided tangible support by augmenting the provinces’ necessary health personnel and offering financial grants to enhance health facilities. She acknowledges the need for improvements in maternal and child care outcomes. The region’s maternal mortality ratio, at 52, is below the country’s target of 90 but infant mortality rate, at 20, is above the national target of 15.

To address preventable maternal and infant deaths, she advocates for Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (BEmONC) training and organized supportive supervision to enhance skills in caring for pregnant women and babies, investigating causes of deaths, and implementing interventions to address underlying issues.

Sydiongco empowers her staff to work towards UHC by providing necessary skills through training, mentoring, and coaching, supported by various programs of the ZFF. Regular monitoring of indicators, outcomes, and developments allows her team to share evidence-based information, earning the trust and confidence of provincial and city leaders.

Having weathered various natural disasters, including the impact of super typhoon Haiyan in the Eastern Visayas region during her tenure as assistant regional director, Sydiongco prioritizes accountability for outcomes and engaging stakeholders effectively given the various organizations she had to face and work with after Haiyan. With the government’s emphasis on establishing more Bagong Urgent Care and Ambulatory Centers (BUCAS) Centers, she recognizes the need to enhance her management skills, acknowledging her ongoing learning process as a Regional Director. 

Sydiongco’s commitment to self-improvement despite regional successes signifies promising prospects for the area. Her dedication echoes the resounding call of “Region 1 Number 1 (sa Kalusugan)”, ensuring that excellence remains the guiding beacon for healthcare in the region.