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.

Author: Ayeza De Mesa, ZFF Bayang Malusog Leadership and Governance Program Associate

Benguet is making progress in its journey toward Universal Health Care, but much work still lies ahead. 

During the August 12, 2025 review of the province’s Health Care Provider Network (HCPN) and Special Health Fund (SHF), the Provincial Government of Benguet under Governor Melchor Diclas met with PhilHealth, the Department of Health (DOH), and the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) to assess progress and challenges. PhilHealth President and CEO Dr. Edwin Mercado, PhilHealth-CAR Regional Vice President Dr. Dominga Gadgad, and DOH Provincial Health Team Leader Dr. Mercedes Calpito all reaffirmed support for the province.

Dr. Catherine Chung, Local Health Systems Director at Zuellig Family Foundation, shared key insights on where Benguet stands and what still needs to be done. 

The province has already formed an SHF Technical Working Group and engaged local finance committees, an important step in operationalizing the SHF. The Provincial Health Office also began discussions with municipalities and is planning to expand the Provincial Health Board, especially with new local leaders now in place. However, unfinished tasks such as completing the SHF manual, updating the patient navigation manual, and finalizing operational guidelines continue to hold back the full roll-out.

Related articles:

• Making Health a Shared Mission in Benguet
• Benguet Charts Path to Stronger Health Governance
• Building a Healthier Benguet: Integrating Health Information, Financing, and Service Delivery to Achieving Universal Health Care

Digital health adoption is also growing. Seven out of 13 municipalities are now using the eMed electronic medical record (EMR) system, but with hospitals still relying on multiple other EMR systems, patient tracking and financial monitoring remain fragmented. Dr. Chung stressed the need to standardize EMRs so that data can be integrated and patients can be tracked across facilities—critical for monitoring the SHF.

On the financing side, PhilHealth’s updates on claims pre-validation, expanded Konsulta benefits, and more accredited primary care facilities show positive momentum. But Dr. Chung noted that clearer roles between DOH and PhilHealth must be established, especially on who should lead technical support to local government units (LGUs) for SHF operations.

In summary, Benguet is moving forward but must accelerate its efforts: finalize SHF guidelines, set rules on health provider costs and pricing, integrate district hospitals as an entry point, and strengthen financial management in preparation for prospective payments in 2026.

For Dr. Chung, these next steps will be crucial:

• Without a strong financial system, the SHF cannot be sustained.
• Data integration through standard EMRs will make patient care and fund monitoring possible.
• Collaboration between PhilHealth, DOH, and LGUs must be clearer if reforms are to succeed.

With these insights, Benguet has a clear path: strengthen its financial and digital systems, clarify institutional roles, and continue building a health system that delivers accessible and sustainable care to its people.