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

As we celebrate the Zuellig Family Foundation’s (ZFF) founding anniversary this September, we honor the values of Bridging Leadership—ownership, co-ownership, and co-creation—that continue to inspire change in our health and community work.

Through the I Am A Bridging Leader campaign, colleagues and friends share their reflections on what being a Bridging Leader means to them and how it has shaped their journey in building healthier communities.

 

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The Zuellig Family Foundation, through its The Challenge Initiative (TCI)-Philippines team, met with Mandaue City Mayor Thadeo Jovito “Jonkie” Ouano, City Health Officer Dr. Debra Maria Catulong, and the dedicated staff of the City Health Office. The discussion highlighted the city’s steady progress in advancing family planning and adolescent health services over the past two years, while also laying out a shared vision to sustain and build on these gains in the years to come. 

Bringing Services Closer to Families 

When Mandaue City first joined TCI  in 2023, access to family planning was limited. Only five midwives in the entire city had the skills to provide certain contraceptive services, and residents often had to travel far or wait for schedules to receive care. Today, that situation has been transformed. All 27 barangay health centers now have trained midwives, nurses, and doctors who can provide modern contraceptives on a daily basis. 

This decentralization of services has had a direct impact on families. The city’s modern contraceptive prevalence rate has risen from 19 percent in 2020 to 30 percent in 2024—meeting the national target. Behind these numbers are women who are better able to space their pregnancies, parents who can provide for their families with greater stability, and adolescents who can make informed choices about their futures. 

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Making Services Adolescent-Friendly 

The city also recognized early on that adolescents face distinct barriers when seeking health services. Young people often hesitate to ask for help because of stigma or fear of being judged. To address this, Mandaue invested in adolescent-friendly health services (AFHS), redesigning facilities to ensure privacy and training staff to listen and respond without judgment. 

As of today, ten barangays have already achieved certification from the Department of Health as adolescent-friendly, and the rest are moving toward the same goal. With these changes, adolescents in Mandaue are finding spaces where they feel welcome, safe, and respected. 

Integrating Family Planning into Everyday Care 

A significant innovation in Mandaue has been the integration of family planning into the full range of health activities. Whether through immunization drives, cancer screenings, or women’s health check-ups, family planning has become part of routine care. This approach helps normalize conversations about reproductive health and ensures that no opportunity is missed to provide information and services. 

Investing in Sustainability 

The city has also demonstrated strong political and financial commitment. From 2.5 million pesos in 2024, the budget for family planning and adolescent health rose to 12 million pesos in 2025—a fivefold increase. This reflects both the prioritization of reproductive health and the recognition of its importance in improving overall well-being. 

At the same time, Mandaue is pursuing PhilHealth accreditation for its facilities and providers. This will allow reimbursements to flow back into the health system, creating a financial cycle that sustains services over time. Coupled with the Special Health Fund under Universal Health Care, the city is positioning itself for long-term continuity of family planning and adolescent health programs. 

Key Lessons from Mandaue’s Experience 

Several lessons stand out from Mandaue City’s journey. Strong local leadership, led by the mayor and supported by the city council, has been central to accelerating reforms. Systems change is possible when local governments commit to decentralization, integration, and youth-friendly service delivery. Listening to adolescents and families has helped ensure that services are relevant and stigma-free. Finally, financial sustainability must be built deliberately, as demonstrated by the city’s budget increases and its pursuit of PhilHealth reimbursements. 

Looking Ahead 

Despite these successes, challenges remain. The city aims to achieve adolescent-friendly certification across all barangays, expand peer education networks, and continue strengthening data quality and use. Ensuring a consistent supply of commodities and fully utilizing available budgets will also be critical to sustaining progress. 

What is most notable is the sense of ownership within Mandaue City. Local leaders, health workers, and communities see these programs not as external projects but as their own responsibility. This perspective is the clearest sign that sustainability is within reach. 

Mandaue City’s story is one of determination, innovation, and leadership. From expanding access to family planning, to creating youth-friendly spaces, to embedding sustainability through financing, the city has demonstrated how local governments can drive meaningful health reforms. 

By making services more accessible to families and more welcoming to adolescents, Mandaue is showing what it means to build a healthier and more empowered community. Its experience serves as a model for other cities in the Philippines—and beyond—on how to combine political will, systems strengthening, and community-centered design to achieve lasting impact. 

Meeting photos from: Mandaue City Public Affairs Office

Author: Dr. Anthony Faraon, ZFF TCI-Philippines Chief of Party

Building foundations for brighter futures: Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) at the Asia-Pacific Regional Network for Early Childhood (ARNEC) Conference 2025!

On the second day of ARNEC 2025, July 2, held in Manila, ZFF joined organizations across Asia to share inclusive and innovative approaches to early childhood development (ECD). During a panel on good practices hosted by the Tanoto Foundation, ZFF presented its 10-year journey in Basilan, where it worked with local leaders to improve services for children in their first 1,000 days (F1KD). Through its Bridging Leadership approach and Health Change Model, ZFF helped local governments strengthen systems for health, nutrition, responsive caregiving, and safety—despite the area’s long-standing security challenges.

ZFF’s experience in Basilan demonstrated the value of adaptive, locally-led governance in improving early childhood outcomes, especially in conflict-affected areas. While approaches may differ across countries, inclusive and sustainable ECD begins with collective action rooted in local realities.

Read more insights here

View full presentation here:

ZFF Presentation_ARNEC

“Relentless follow-through is the name of the game,” said Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) President and Executive Director Austere Panadero as he addressed graduates of the Municipal Leadership and Governance Program (MLGP) Cycle 4 in Western Visayas. He challenged them to go beyond planning and focus on execution—encouraging collaboration, innovation, and long-term thinking in addressing persistent health issues, including teenage pregnancy and malnutrition.

Seventeen local government units (LGUs) from across Western Visayas completed the 18-month MLGP journey during the Colloquium held on July 10 in Iloilo City. These included 1 LGU from Guimaras, 2 from Antique, 3 from Iloilo, and 7 from Negros Occidental. The graduates included local chief executives (LCEs), municipal health officers, and designated “third leaders”, mostly municipal planning and development officers.

Led by the Department of Health (DOH)-Western Visayas, in partnership with the University of the Philippines (UP)-Visayas and ZFF, MLGP builds the leadership and governance skills of local health leaders using ZFF’s Bridging Leadership framework. Since 2014, more than 250 health leaders in the region have completed the program.

Dr. Philip Ian Padilla, MLGP Project Leader from UP Visayas, proudly noted that this cycle reached a 100% graduation rate—a first in the program. “This reflects the strong commitment of local leaders to improve their health systems,” he said.

DOH-Western Visayas Regional Director Dr. Annabelle Yumang shared that MLGP shifted the health governance mindset among LGUs. “Health is not for the health sector alone, but truly the responsibility of our LCEs to own the health of the people,” she said, drawing from her past experience as a municipal health officer.

DOH Undersecretary Dr. Mary Ann Palermo-Maestral called on the graduates to lead with heart and inclusion: “Let us remain steadfast not just in implementing health programs, but in building a health movement that advances justice, dignity, and hope for every Filipino.”

The graduates presented best practices and results from their MLGP practicum work—tackling health issues such as maternal health, WASH (water, sanitation, and hygiene), teenage pregnancy, malnutrition, tuberculosis, and mental health. Their presentations showcased not just improvements in health indicators but also strengthened community involvement and collaboration.

Mayor Aser Baladjay of Laua-an, Antique, shared how community dialogues helped respond to the needs of an Indigenous Peoples group in a remote area. Mayor Benjie Miranda of Kabankalan City, Negros Occidental, stressed the importance of creating a long-term health roadmap beyond one-time financial assistance. Mayor Adi Lazaro of Pototan, Iloilo, credited MLGP for helping them meet all their health roadmap indicators.

Throughout the event, local leaders expressed appreciation to ZFF for its guidance in applying Bridging Leadership to real-life health challenges.

As Cycle 4 ends, the graduates are equipped not just with knowledge, but with stronger resolve to implement Universal Health Care in their communities—anchored on leadership, systems change, and a commitment to better health for all.

Davao de Oro joined Aklan, Dinagat Islands, and Kalinga in celebrating a key achievement last March 2025—the successful completion of the Roberto R. Romulo (RRR) Fellowship for Public Health Leadership and Governance, a program led by the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) in partnership with the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Public Health and the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance.

For Davao de Oro Governor Dorothy Gonzaga, the year-long fellowship was a transformational journey. “Coming from the judiciary and only entering politics in 2022, I never imagined how complex the health system really is,” she said. “This program helped me understand the power of leadership in turning health challenges into opportunities.”

Davao de Oro faced five key health concerns:

1. Child immunization coverage remains critically low. Only 63% of children were fully immunized in 2024—far below the national target of 95%. This gap leaves many children vulnerable to preventable diseases.
2. Teenage pregnancy continues to rise. In 2024, the rate reached 51 per 1,000 adolescents, which is significantly higher than both national and global benchmarks. 
3. The province’s hospitals are overwhelmed. The four provincial hospitals have a 315% occupancy rate, far above the ideal 80–85%, putting strain on both patients and health workers.
4. The province struggles with limited funding to properly manage its hospital system. To address this, the provincial government has proposed the renationalization of one hospital to improve funding and governance. 
5. Enrollment in the PhilHealth Konsulta program is still low. Only 8.4% of residents have had their first patient encounter, showing the need for stronger public awareness and engagement.

Despite the gaps, the province has made important strides. It tapped Barangay Volunteer Sanitation Inspectors to improve sanitation monitoring and prevent disease outbreaks at the community level. An information system was also developed that profiles and helps track Barangay Health Workers. 

The KoboCollect digital tool is being used to collect and manage data on water, sanitation, and hygiene. A provincial communication plan was also rolled out to improve field registration for primary health services.

In terms of services, the province exceeded national targets in prenatal care coverage, skilled birth attendance, and family planning. “These wins give us confidence that we’re on the right path,” she said.

The RRR Fellowship emphasized Bridging Leadership—the idea that real change happens when leaders bring people together. “I learned I can’t do it alone,” Governor Gonzaga reflected. “We need our mayors, health workers, and citizens to co-create solutions.”

Governor Gonzaga credits the Fellowship for sharpening her sense of purpose as a public servant. “I now see health not just as a service, but as a platform for empowerment and equity.”

Aklan proudly marked the end of a transformative journey. Alongside Davao de Oro, Dinagat Islands, and Kalinga, the province graduated from the Zuellig Family Foundation’s (ZFF) Roberto R. Romulo (RRR) Fellowship for Public Health Leadership and Governance in March 2025.

The RRR Fellowship, named after ZFF’s founding chair and in partnership with the University of the Philippines (UP) College of Public Health and the UP National College of Public Administration and Governance, aimed to equip governors and local health leaders with skills to solve real-life health problems.

For Aklan Governor Jose Enrique Miraflores, this was a year of action, collaboration, and meaningful progress for the province. The Fellowship builds on the province’s involvement in ZFF’s other health leadership programs, which helped strengthen the local health system and prepared Aklan’s leaders for deeper, systems-oriented reform.

 

From the start, Governor Miraflores made it clear: implementing Universal Health Care (UHC) was his top priority. As one of the pilot areas for the Healthcare Provider Network (HCPN), Aklan was determined to improve health services for every Aklanon. All 18 primary care facilities in the province are now fully licensed by the Department of Health (DOH)—a first in Western Visayas.

This success came from strong local unity. “All the mayors of the 17 municipalities, kahit ‘kalaban’ pa namin na mayors, they grasped what we need to do,” he remarked. “It’s not only my job to implement UHC. Dapat sama-sama kaming lahat.”

Governor Miraflores also shared the province’s top health challenges. These included:

• Delays in PhilHealth contracting: Even with all the preparation and local budget support, national delays in PhilHealth’s processes held back fund releases and service contracting.

• Slow first patient encounter (FPE) rates: Although 400,000 Aklanons are registered with PhilHealth, only 12% have completed their first patient encounter—still far from the target of 50%.

• Digital health systems: While many primary care facilities now use electronic medical records (EMRs), Aklan’s hospitals still lack full digital systems.

• Lack of health workers: Aklan needs more doctors, nurses, and midwives. The province is now drafting a plan to address this.
• Rising mental health cases: Aklan has the highest suicide rate in Western Visayas. Mental health became Governor Miraflores’ focus during his Deep Dive, a guided community immersion, under the Fellowship.

Despite the challenges, Aklan has achieved impressive results:

• Successfully negotiated with PhilHealth to become an HCPN demonstration site.
• All LGUs contribute 1% of their development fund to the Special Health Fund.
• Six district health managers hired to lead health services in identified clusters.
• Strong partnership with the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, which passed the Aklan HCPN ordinance.
• Digital health partnerships that led to an increase in PhilHealth reimbursements—from Php 104,000 in 2022 to Php 66 million in 2024.
• For mental health, Aklan passed a provincial ordinance and encouraged municipalities to adopt it. In one inspiring case, a troubled child received help and is now serving as a barangay health worker.

Governor Miraflores emphasized the value of data in decision-making: “Kailangan talaga data-driven. Before we decide on things, we need to see the data first so we can learn what we need to do.”

He also credited his training under ZFF’s Bridging Leadership approach, which focuses on personal ownership, co-ownership with stakeholders, and co-creation of solutions. “Hindi ako doktor, but I have to understand what’s happening in our health issues. I shared this mindset with our mayors. That’s why it wasn’t hard to convince them to collaborate.”

As he closed his RRR Fellowship journey, Governor Miraflores reflected on the long-term impact of their work: “Since I became a leader, this is what I always say: ‘What we do in life echoes in eternity.’ This is not only about legacy. It’s about what we do now that will benefit future generations.”

In this case study, leadership plays a pivotal role in driving health systems reform in Balete and New Washington municipalities, with both mayors leveraging health leadership programs to achieve comparable health outcomes despite differing economic standings, demonstrating effective integration into the Aklan Provincial Health System and adherence to principles of Bridging Leadership essential for realizing Universal Health Care goals.

ZFF Case Study_Primary Health Care System of Balete and New Washington in Aklan

Willpower, meticulousness, strategic thinking, and community building come naturally to women. These qualities have not only endeared Mayor Nashiba Gandamra-Sumagayan to her constituents but also helped bring progress to Taraka in Lanao del Sur.

The proof of her hard work is the conferment of the 2020 Civil Service Commission Pagasa Award (Regional Winner for the Honors Program) for outstanding governance.

Sumagayan was credited for turning a fourth-class municipality into a progressive community. She has maintained the peace and order vital to the progress of every locality.

The mayor acknowledges her predecessor and husband, Amenodin, for initiating vital changes when he was the mayor. Amenodin settled long-standing family feuds which had intimidated the community. More police officers patrolled the neighborhoods, curbing crime and drug-related activities.

“Peace and order has always been our top priority. Our collective efforts have led to the various accomplishments of our security forces,” she says.

The Taraka-MPS (Metropolitan Police Service) was conferred the Medalya ng Papuri for arresting the top three most wanted suspects.

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Spending on infrastructure was likewise a priority. With the help of government organizations, farm-to-market roads, multi-purpose buildings, water systems, RHU (rural health unit) buildings, and a Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, among other structures, were built. The municipal hall was also expanded and the municipal gymnasium renovated.

The mayor enhanced the social services such as continuing education programs amid the pandemic. Every month, Sumagayan would meet with the local school board to discuss how the learners were faring and how the local government could improve the educational system. As a result, her LGU merited the Seal of Good Education Governance in 2019 from the Synergeia Foundation, a league of organizations espousing quality education, and the United States Agency for International Development.

Before she entered politics, Sumagayan was assistant professor in English and literature at the Mindanao State University. “I invested time in my work so that I would be able to equip my students with the essential skills needed to reach their goals,” she enthuses.

She admits her biggest challenge then was balancing her role as teacher, mother, and wife to her husband who was then Mayor and was girding for the bar exams. She did not allow the pressures of family life affect her work. Even if she felt under the weather, she continued to teach with enthusiasm.

Further, Sumagayan has made health services more accessible to her constituents. The RHU provides newborn screening kits, incentives for tuberculosis-cured children, and hygiene kits.

Dr. Bolawan Delawi, RHU head, and the Zuellig Family Foundation have implemented various health programs. With the police and other departments, Sumagayan has been conducting an awareness campaign on smoke-related health problems. The LGU has since been placed in the Hall of Fame of the Red Orchid Awards, the Department of Health’s incentive for tobacco-free environments.

Taraka has managed to control the COVID-19 pandemic through the Sangguniang Bayan, headed by Vice Mayor Amenodin Sumagayan.

Through a series of house-to-house relief operations, Sangguniang Bayan distributed hygiene kits and horticulture crops, and procured health materials for disinfection. Frontliners were given personal protective equipment and free meals. When the lockdowns put the livelihood of daily-wage earners on hold, the mayor provided cash assistance.

Sumagayan points out that her greatest achievement has been to empower her associates and her constituents by making them believe in their potential. Throughout her term, Taraka has received the seals from the Department of the Interior and Local Government for good governance, most gender responsive municipality, good financial housekeeping, disaster preparedness, business friendliness, and peace and order.

This year, Sumagayan plans to establish an agricultural and livelihood program with the vision of making Taraka an economic hub. She hopes to implement Mindanao Development Authority chairperson Emmanuel Piñol’s solar-powered irrigation system, an anti-poverty program that aims to provide water and improve crop production in isolated provinces.

“This will not only help our farmers but also our constituents who do not have enough to support themselves. We will be able to establish a local enterprise where everyone will benefit most especially our vulnerable sectors,” she says.

Aside from improvements in her municipality, her collaborative leadership style has also brought Muslim women to the forefront. “Muslim women leaders across the globe are proving that their biological makeup and their social stereotypes do not reflect their potential,” she emphasizes.

“Muslim women are independent and spiritual individuals in their own right. They are firm in their resolve and inclined to lead against odds. Despite living in patriarchal societies, they stand on their ground and let their voices be heard. They speak for other people and show immense compassion towards their communities. This is what fuels them to brave every challenge that comes their way. This is what makes Muslim women leaders special.

(This story was published in the Manila Standard on Jan. 6, 2021)