The Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF), through its Bayang Malusog Leadership and Governance Program (BMLGP), is helping strengthen primary health care (PHC) systems in Kapangan and Kibungan in Benguet and Baguio City to support the country’s Universal Health Care (UHC) goals.

Guided by the UHC Act’s vision of accessible, equitable, and people-centered health services, the Bayang Malusog Program focuses on improving local leadership and governance so that government units can effectively manage integrated primary care networks. To support this, ZFF provided partnership grants to the City Camp and Irisan District Health Centers in Baguio City, and the Rural Health Units of Kapangan and Kibungan in Benguet.

Related articles:

• Kibungan and Kapangan’s Grand March Toward a Shared UHC Vision
• Baguio City Advance Universal Health Plans
• Moving Forward with Health Reforms in Benguet

The grants help frontline health workers deliver better care through:

• Home visit kits for community outreach;
• Personal protective equipment (PPE) for Barangay Health Workers (BHWs);
• Essential primary health care equipment; and
• Health Information System (HIS) support.

These tools enable continuous, quality care at the community level.

The turnover ceremony on January 22, 2025, marked a shared commitment to making primary care facilities strong and functional. Baguio City officials present were Dr. Ma. Lourdes Pakoy, Assistant City Health Officer; Dr. Nelson Hora, City Camp District Health Center Medical Officer; and Dr. Vanessa Fagcangan, Irisan District Health Center Medical Officer. From Benguet, Dr. Meliarazon Dulay and Dr. Jocelyn Legaspi, Provincial Health Officers, and Ms. Rubelyn Tomas, Senior Health Program Officer, attended, along with Dr. Joy Fermin, Municipal Health Officer of Kapangan. Department of Health-Cordillera Administrative Region officials Dr. Janice Bugtong and Dr. Mercedes Calpito also joined.

Through the Bayang Malusog Program, ZFF continues to show that strong leadership, well-supported health workers, and integrated primary care systems form the foundation of UHC—ensuring every Filipino family can access quality, responsive, and people-centered health services.

Banner photo: Provincial Health Office of Benguet

Authors: Joan Kidatan, ZFF BMLGP Associate for Baguio City

The Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) formalized a new partnership with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) on December 3, 2025, through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that strengthens ZFF’s ongoing work in building local health leadership and improving primary care systems in the Cordillera Administrative Region.

PhilHealth President Dr. Edwin Mercado highlighted the significance of the partnership. “This collaboration with ZFF will help us close gaps in the system. By educating providers, empowering local governments, and leveraging data, we can better align supply and demand in primary care and ensure communities get the services they need,” he said.

Related articles:

• Moving Forward with Health Reforms in Benguet
• Baguio City Advance Universal Health Plans

The MOU allows ZFF to work closely with PhilHealth’s Social Health Insurance Academy in co-developing and delivering training on social health insurance, supporting Provincial Health Boards and teams, and putting in place a joint monitoring and evaluation framework. These efforts will help improve registration to PhilHealth’s Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP), first patient encounters, and the utilization of PhilHealth benefits—key areas aligned with ZFF’s mission to strengthen primary healthcare.

ZFF Chair Dr. Manuel Dayrit added, “This signing reflects our shared compassion and faith in serving communities. Even with limited resources, we can work together to transform primary health care. That transformation—the miracle we seek—is about comprehensive, connected, and continuous first-contact care that truly reaches those who need it.”

The signing marks another step in ZFF’s commitment to helping local governments build sustainable, community-centered health systems that ensure accessible and quality care for all.

The Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) conducted field monitoring and assessment visits in Lamitan City, Maluso, Ungkaya Pukan, Hadji Mohammad Ajul, and Al-Barka, five of the ten Local Government Units (LGUs) as part of the Municipal Nutrition Governance Program (MNGP) under ZFF’s Basilan Assistance Program (BAP). The visits aimed to check the LGUs’ practicum implementation, track accomplishments based on their plans, and identify areas where they need additional support to strengthen local nutrition governance.

LGU nutrition core teams shared their experiences, challenges, and learnings. Their reflections offered a clearer picture of their progress and the guidance they still need. The visit also allowed them to plan for the upcoming Operation Timbang, validate performance milestones, and make sure their strategies align with their nutrition goals.

Across all sites, local leaders are taking concrete actions to place nutrition at the center of development. LGUs strengthened their systems by issuing policies and ordinances that encourage multi-sectoral work and formalize support for community workers. Increased budget allocations now reinforce these policy gains and reflect a more stable commitment to reducing malnutrition.

At the barangay level, improvements continue to take shape. Many barangays formed Barangay Nutrition Committees and drafted Barangay Nutrition Action Plans to guide nutrition initiatives. Barangay Nutrition Workers—including former combatants now serving as community frontliners—received training and built confidence in their roles. They now reach more families and deliver essential services more consistently, which supports more timely management of moderate and severe acute malnutrition cases.

The following key developments across LGUs were observed:

• LGUs issued policies and ordinances that strengthen multi-sectoral nutrition work.
• LGUs now have dedicated and prioritized budgets covering more comprehensive nutrition programs and services.
• Barangays formed Barangay Nutrition Committees to organize community actions.
• Selected barangays developed Barangay Nutrition Action Plans to guide interventions.
• Barangay Nutrition Workers received training on Nutrition Assessment and Basic Management of Acute Malnutrition and now work more confidently and effectively.
• Communities observed more responsive management of acute malnutrition cases. In Lamitan City, the local government hired additional IT support to strengthen the implementation of the Health and Nutrition Information System (HNIS). 
• Improved community access by ensuring regular deployment of medical personnel in strategic barangay posts beyond the barangay health stations.

When LGUs invest in nutrition, they help build a healthier foundation for the next generation. The progress in Basilan shows that prioritizing nutrition is not only a health response, but a long-term investment in peace, stability, and human development.

Author: Rio Fe Del Valle, ZFF Nutrition Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Expert

This technical paper looks at how Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF)-supported cities and municipalities performed in the Seal of Good Local Governance (SGLG) Health Compliance and Responsiveness (HCR) assessments from 2022 to 2024, and compares these results with national performance.

Building on the provincial benchmarking study released in May 2025, this follow-up analysis helps ZFF better understand where its partner local governments are progressing and where more support is needed. The findings will guide future program strategies, strengthen collaboration with local government units, and support more responsive capacity development aligned with national priorities for Universal Health Care.

Benchmarking of ZFF Cities and Municipalities with SGLG HCR_Sept2025_FINAL

The City Health Services Office of Baguio, led by Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes, is taking meaningful steps to strengthen and make health care more inclusive for the city. On September 24–25, 2025, 23 medical officers and staff completed Module 1 of the Bayang Malusog Leadership and Governance Program (BMLGP).

BMLGP, a partnership between the City of Baguio and the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF), aims to build the knowledge, skills, and values of local health leaders so they can champion Universal Health Care (UHC) and address long-standing gaps in access to quality services.

During the two-day training, participants reflected on the health inequities in Baguio and studied the Bridging Leadership Framework, which highlights ownership, co-ownership, and co-creation in solving complex health challenges. They also learned practical approaches such as systems thinking, multi-sector collaboration, building and sustaining trust, and dialogue-based planning—tools essential for effective health leadership and governance.

Related article:

• Baguio City Advance Universal Health Plans

Moving forward, the city has identified key activities to strengthen collaboration in support of its Health Care Provider Network (HCPN), including:

• Stakeholder mapping and analysis to better understand the roles and needs of different partners;
• Training workshops to build the capacity of local health teams;
• Technical working group meetings to align efforts and monitor progress; and
• Crafting of a special health fund manual to guide resource use and sustainability.

These activities are aligned with the city’s UHC Roadmap, advancing its vision of becoming a “livable, inclusive, and creative city.”

In her closing remarks, Dr. Catherine Chung, Director of the Local Health Systems of ZFF, recognized the participants’ active involvement and highlighted the value of shared effort. “In the complexity of public health and UHC, no one person holds the answer, but together as Bridging Leaders, we create solutions,” she said.

For Dr. Brillantes and her team, more than just a training, the program is a call to action. By practicing shared leadership, they are reaffirming their commitment to transform health in Baguio with compassion, innovation, and collaboration, ensuring a healthier future for every resident.

Authors: Joan Kidatan, ZFF LHS Provincial Associate for Baguio City; Krizzia Esperanza, ZFF Corporate Communications Associate

Empowering communities, strengthening leadership for better health outcomes

About the report

The Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) Annual Report 2024 shares stories of change, lessons learned, and milestones in improving health outcomes for Filipinos.

Our work in 2024 focused on:

2024 at a glance

ZFF will continue working with provinces, cities, and municipalities to accelerate health reforms, scale nutrition programs, and empower youth and communities.

Read the full report here:

ZFF Annual Report 2024

Download

Download: Audited Financial Statements 2024

“We commit again that we will continue prioritizing health. Tuloy-tuloy tayo dito.” – Hon. Melchor Diclas, Benguet Governor

In local governments, health often competes with other urgent needs. For health officers, one big question remains: How can we make sure that political leaders keep prioritizing health—now and in the future? For the Provincial Health Office (PHO) of Benguet, the answer lies in co-creation of solutions and pathways.

A Shared Journey for Health

Benguet, led by Governor Melchor Diclas and Dr. Meliarazon Dulay, is part of the Bayang Malusog Leadership and Governance Program (BMLGP). The program is supported by the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) and the Department of Health-Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CAR).

Now in its second cycle, the PHO has gone beyond workshops. They have built a strong shared vision, aligned their values, and created a clear plan for the next three years. They call it the Healthier Benguet Roadmap.

In one key session, ZFF facilitated a reflective activity based on ikigai—a Japanese concept about purpose. It helped the Benguet health team reconnect with why they chose public health in the first place. “What I love about being in public health service is knowing people, their story, and being able to help them,” said one participant.

Governor Diclas: Leading with Purpose

On July 21, 2025, the Benguet health team presented the roadmap to Governor Diclas. He responded with clear and strong support. 

He stressed the need for alignment with Benguet’s mayors. “Kung iba-iba ang priorities natin, hindi tayo makakapagtulong-tulungan,” he said, “Let us convince everyone to prioritize health.” He also suggested enrolling all newly elected mayors, and those who missed the first round, in the Bayong Malusog Municipal Leadership and Development Program.

Now on his third term, Governor Diclas’ commitment turns the roadmap into a legacy plan, one that could shape health governance in Benguet for years to come.

Related articles:

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

The Healthier Benguet Roadmap

The roadmap is both bold and practical. More than just a static plan, the roadmap is a shared promise to make health services better for every resident of Benguet. Among its pillars are:

• Institutionalizing the Healthier Benguet Caravan and SHAYAW (Stellar Health Achievement Yearly Awards), bringing services directly to communities,
• Establishing an integrated Health Care Provider Network (HCPN),
• Strengthening data-driven decision-making at all levels,
• Ensuring sustainable health financing, and
• Expanding community participation and Human Resources for Health (HRH) capacity-building.

Support that Makes a Difference

DOH-CAR continues to give technical support and push for clearer alignment with the national office. PhilHealth helps by sharing data that supports equity and better program decisions. 

ZFF, aside from its leadership training, also provides mentoring, coaching, technical sessions, and grants. It is now working on building an executive dashboard to help local leaders make smarter, data-informed choices.

A Call to Co-Create

Benguet is moving forward, and they are inviting everyone to join. Health cannot be improved by the government alone. It takes a whole-of-society effort: national agencies, local leaders, civil society, private organizations, and citizens, all working together.

The roadmap is ready. The leaders are committed. And the people are hopeful.

Authors: Joan Kidatan, ZFF LHS Provincial Associate for Baguio City; Krizzia Esperanza, ZFF Corporate Communications Associate

The Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) continues to strengthen local nutrition governance through its flagship initiative, Pook Malusog, which empowers provincial leaders to lead multisectoral efforts in addressing malnutrition. 

With its long-standing belief that health and nutrition outcomes improve when local chief executives take ownership, ZFF works closely with governors, mayors, and frontline workers to ensure that leadership, planning, and systems are aligned to support families, especially during the First 1,000 Days (F1KD) of a child’s life.

ZFF shared its experiences and insights during the Webinar on a Weekday  (WoW!) session organized by the Philippine Stakeholders for Nutrition and Dietetics, Inc. (PSND) last July 11, 2025. The webinar, titled “Make or Break! How Will Your Newly Elected Officials Impact Nutrition in Your Community?” aimed to raise awareness on nutrition as a governance issue and encourage stronger local leadership in prioritizing nutrition.

Cecilio Adorna, Senior Fellow at Stratan LLC, opened the session by sharing national-level trends in child wasting and stunting. He pointed out that recent gains—such as the decline of stunting from 33.4% in 2015 to 23.6% in 2023—were driven by increased local government unit (LGU) engagement and policy support. “We should celebrate,” he said, “but also determine what was done right. The giant in the room is the LGU. The more we mobilize and support them, the more we can intensify progress.”

Dr. Joyce Ann Viar, ZFF’s Nutrition Director, stressed the governance gaps that continue to hinder progress: “Malnutrition remains a serious issue. Mataas pa rin po ang stunting and wasting sa bansa. One of the key reasons is the lack of coordination and accountability at the local level.” She shared how ZFF’s Provincial Nutrition Governance Program (PNGP) helps address these gaps by building the capacity of governors and their teams through coaching, training, and Deep Dive—a guided community immersion activity.

Austere Panadero, ZFF President and Executive Director, added, “What nutrition governance really requires is clear leadership. Kung hindi malinaw sa LGU, mahihirapan ang programa.” He urged continued investment in nutrition, citing that visible gains must be sustained and scaled by empowering more LGUs.

Through its Eight Critical Knobs of Nutrition Governance, ZFF promotes a comprehensive, system-wide approach to improving maternal and child nutrition. In Sarangani and Samar, stronger local leadership has led to improved nutrition policies, increased investments, better coordination across departments, and more empowered communities.

“We saw consistent improvement in nutrition outcomes in provinces that prioritized and strengthened these knobs,” said Dr. Viar. “Sana mapalago pa. More LGUs will be inspired or interested to enroll in the program.”

Health leaders and partners from Benguet gathered in Baguio City for a Program Implementation Planning Workshop under the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF)’s Bayang Malusog Leadership and Governance Program (BMLGP) last May 28-29, 2025. The workshop brought together stakeholders to assess Benguet’s current health landscape, agree on strategic interventions, and build a shared commitment to health leadership and accountability.

One of the major outcomes of the workshop was the identification of two critical focus areas: health data management and health financing. Participants noted the importance of improving how health data is collected, analyzed, and used. A stronger health information system would allow for more accurate monitoring of health indicators, better resource distribution, and faster responses to health concerns. Alongside this, the group highlighted the need for sustainable and equitable health financing. This involves making the most of existing budgets, exploring innovative ways to fund health programs, and enhancing the financial management skills of local health offices.

Twenty health leaders and staff from various agencies and local government units attended the two-day workshop. From the Benguet Provincial Health Office, Provincial Health Officer II Dr. Meliarazon Dulay, Provincial Health Officer I Dr. Jocelyn Legaspi, and Senior Health Program Officer Rubelyn Tomas joined the discussions. Benguet General Hospital was represented by Chief of Hospital Dr. Maria Imelda Ulep.

From the Department of Health (DOH), Dr. Mercedes Calpito, Melanie June Pucay and Sunshine Pisando attended. Sarah Jane Binaked represented the DOH Center for Health Development-Cordillera Administrative Region (CHD-CAR).

Representatives from the two pilot municipalities also played an active role in the workshop. From Kibungan, attendees included Dr. Hydre Nga-ew (Municipal Health Officer), Ivy Pasigon, and Letty Calawa. From Kapangan, Dr. Mary Joy Fermin (Municipal Health Officer), Charmaine Patil-ao, and Olivia Pantalone joined the group. Dr. Fabiola Gabriel, President of the Benguet Association of Municipal Health Officers of the Philippines (AMHOP), and Noland Sabling, Acting Chief Social Insurance Officer of PhilHealth Benguet, also took part.

With the implementation plan now in development, BMLGP is set to support stronger leadership, more effective governance, and improved primary care services in Benguet. The program will start with a focused approach in Kibungan and Kapangan supporting their health leadership and governance needs, with the goal of eventually expanding benefits to families across the entire province.