Zuellig Family Foundation Annual Report 2024
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
Local Health Systems
- 3.2M people registered under PhilHealth KONSULTA in partner areas.
- 100% primary care facility accreditation in almost all areas.
- UHC Champion Series shared practical lessons across LGUs.
Nutrition
- Reduced stunting and wasting in Basilan, Samar, Northern Samar, Sarangani, Zamboanga del Norte, and Siargao towns.
- Launched Nutrition Leadership and Equity Acceleration Program (NutriLEAP) with the League of Provinces of the Philippines to strengthen provincial leadership.
- Rolled out the Pook Malusog Dashboard for easier, data-based decisions.
Adolescent and Youth Sexual and Reproductive Health
- 11 cities lowered the adolescent birth rate below 20 per 1,000.
- Adolescent-friendly health facilities grew to 555.
- Recognized work with partners through national and global learning events.
ZFF Institute for Health Leadership
- Coached and trained fellows under the RRR Fellowship to solve health system gaps.
- Worked with academic partners to scale leadership programs.
- Sustained ISO-certified learning quality and CPD accreditation.
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 2024Download
Download: Audited Financial Statements 2024
Dinagat Islands Champions Health Leadership through Roberto R. Romulo Fellowship
“Health is not just the government’s job—it’s everybody’s concern.” – Hon. Nilo Demerey, Jr., Dinagat Islands Governor
The province of Dinagat Islands graduated from the Roberto R. Romulo (RRR) Fellowship for Public Health Leadership and Governance last March 2025, joining three other provinces—Aklan, Davao de Oro, and Kalinga—in celebrating the end of a year-long journey to improve local health systems. With the support of 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, the RRR Fellowship equipped local leaders with the tools to transform their health governance and make Universal Health Care (UHC) a reality in their communities.
Governor Nilo Demerey, Jr. led the province’s efforts with bold ideas and concrete actions. “Our province, though small, has faced significant challenges,” he said. “But with the right leadership, collaboration, and innovative strategies, we have made great progress in ensuring better health care for our people.”
Dinagat tackled major health concerns, including malnutrition, maternal deaths, low immunization coverage, and lack of access to hospital services. In 2024, stunting stood at 11.6% and wasting at 2.5%. There were also three maternal deaths recorded in the first quarter of 2025. In response, Governor Demerey’s team introduced several programs—most notably, a zero-billing policy on health services.
Under the fellowship program, the province launched the Remedy Aksyon Center to handle emergencies across all 100 barangays. They also expanded the Provincial Health Board and rolled out the Senior Citizen Health and Wellness Caravan, door-to-door healthcare services, and weekend medical missions. The province also distributed Remedy Cards—smart IDs with QR codes—to track every resident’s health history and services received. “We realized that those who need health care most are the ones who can’t reach hospitals,” Governor Demerey shared.
Dinagat also invested in nutrition-sensitive policies, making backyard gardening a requirement for government aid. The province is also enrolled in ZFF’s Nutrition Leadership and Equity Acceleration Program (NutriLEAP) to further improve its nutrition governance and address malnutrition more effectively.
Thanks to the RRR Fellowship, Governor Demerey said Dinagat’s health governance matured significantly. “This program helped us implement evidence-based policies that are practical and impactful,” he said. “We’ve moved from being a 4th class to a 2nd class province.”
“The public health tradition is not just about policies and programs,” Governor Demerey said in closing. “It is about commitment, collaboration, and compassion.”