Zuellig Family Foundation Receives Gawad Kalusugan Award from DOH-Cordillera
The Department of Health-Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-Cordillera) honored the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) with the Gawad Kalusugan Award for its contribution to advancing Universal Health Care (UHC) in the region. The recognition took place during the Am-among for Health and Gawad Kalusugan on October 28–29, 2025, in Baguio City.
DOH-CAR recognized ZFF for its partnership in implementing the Bayang Malusog Leadership and Development Program (BMLDP), a joint initiative that builds the capacity of local leaders to strengthen health systems and improve health outcomes. The Bayang Malusog program continues to make an impact in its Community of Practice member areas, including Apayao, Mountain Province, Kalinga, Ifugao, and current Bayang Malusog Leadership and Governance Program sites Benguet and Baguio City, where empowered leaders sustain health reforms and deliver better services for their communities.
In her message, DOH-Cordillera Regional Director Amelita Pangilinan commended the efforts of partners like ZFF in empowering local government units (LGUs), saying, “The LGU is the lifeline of reform.” She encouraged continued collaboration to strengthen primary health care, improve facilities, and invest in the health workforce.
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DOH Undersecretary Glenn Mathew Baggao urged participants to view UHC “not merely as a law, but as a commitment to collective effort for better health access.” He added that a ‘Healthier Cordillera’ requires building an inclusive, accessible, and resilient health system.
Through the Gawad Kalusugan, DOH-Cordillera also recognized outstanding LGUs, national agencies, civil society organizations, and private partners who help advance UHC in the region.
The recognition affirms ZFF’s commitment to work with DOH and LGUs in strengthening leadership and governance for health toward the shared goal of ensuring equitable and quality health care for every Filipino.
Main photo from: DOH-Cordillera
Author: Joan Kidatan, ZFF Local Health Systems Provincial Associate for Baguio City
Bayang Malusog Community of Practice Holds Learning Visit in Laguna
Santa Rosa, Laguna — The Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF)’s Bayang Malusog Community of Practice (CoP) held a face-to-face learning visit on September 4, 2025, at Healthway QualiMed Hospital, where Chief Operating Officer Atty. Nirmala Barbara Vanguardia welcomed members and introduced the hospital’s approach to providing quality health care.
Participants representing 11 CoP member areas (Aklan, Apayao, Benguet, Eastern Samar, Ifugao, Kalinga, La Union, Mountain Province, Nueva Vizcaya, Occidental Mindoro, and Baguio City) took part in the session to learn how a private health institution manages its systems and sustains its operations. The visit gave participants an opportunity to compare experiences and see how good practices in hospital and primary care management could inspire solutions in local government health systems.
Hospital leaders presented the facility’s background, expansion plans, and organizational structure. They emphasized that clarifying roles and responsibilities helps teams work effectively and prevents overlaps. Members found this lesson particularly relevant as many provinces are still refining their own organizational arrangements for Universal Health Care (UHC) implementation.
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The hospital also showcased its referral network under the Healthway Medical Network, explaining how it links patients to appropriate care, supports information flow, and ensures continuity of services. CoP members noted that strengthening referral systems remains a common challenge in local settings, making this example valuable. The discussion on financial management further gave members insights on how sound systems can sustain service delivery and improve efficiency.
A guided tour of the hospital allowed participants to observe operations firsthand, from equipment standards to human resource practices. The interactive exchange encouraged members to raise questions on how these systems could be adapted in their provinces, especially in contexts where resources are limited.
In the plenary session, members reflected on the visit and shared how they plan to apply their learnings. Some said the clear structure and systematic networking approach of Healthway could serve as models for strengthening their own provincial health systems. Others expressed that seeing the hospital’s practices in action made the lessons more concrete and easier to adapt.
Dr. Catherine Chung, Local Health Systems Director at ZFF, closed the activity with words of encouragement, reminding the members that peer learning and exposure to different models help build stronger foundations for UHC. She urged participants to translate their insights into action, carrying forward the motivation from the visit into their communities.
