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.

Related articles:

• Moving Forward with Health Reforms in Benguet
• Making Health a Shared Mission in Benguet

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

What role do public-private partnerships play in improving health systems?

From November 18-22, 2024, Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) joined in the 8th Global Symposium on Health Systems Research (HSR 2024) in Nagasaki, Japan. Dr. Catherine Chung, ZFF Local Health Systems Portfolio Director, shared a compelling presentation on ZFF’s LHS project, “Provincial Leadership and Governance Program: A Public-Private Collaboration Model for Local Health Systems Strengthening Towards Universal Health Coverage in the Philippines.”

The study, co-authored by Fiona Norada and Dr. Anthony Faraon from ZFF, Arian Loreche and Veincent Pepito from the Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health led by Dr. Manuel Dayrit, focused on the vital role of partnerships in strengthening health systems for better outcomes.

HSR 2024 gathered over 1,000 global participants, themed “Building Just and Sustainable Health Systems: Centering People and Protecting the Planet.” It was an excellent opportunity for ZFF to share knowledge, exchange ideas, and learn from global best practices on building people-centered health systems.

View the full presentation here:

ZFF Presentation_HSR

The Provincial Leadership and Governance Program (PLGP) of the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) was recently featured in the Philippines’ 2025 Voluntary National Review (VNR) as a key example of how civil society and local government partnerships are helping the country achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3: Good Health and Well-Being.

Implemented from 2019 to 2022 in the provinces of Aklan, Agusan del Sur, and Bataan, the PLGP strengthened provincial governments’ capacity to lead and manage local health systems. The program supported governors, mayors, and their health teams through leadership training, coaching, and technical assistance, with the goal of improving access to primary healthcare, particularly maternal and child health, infectious disease control, and non-communicable disease management.

Assessments conducted in 2023 and 2024 showed positive results. Maternal deaths at the provincial level declined, while skilled birth attendance and facility-based deliveries increased. These improvements reflected the provinces’ strengthened health systems and commitment to prioritizing frontline health services.

The PLGP is part of ZFF’s broader effort, in collaboration with the Department of Health (DOH), academic institutions, and development partners, to enhance local health leadership and governance. The program has since informed the design of the Bayang Malusog Program, which is now being implemented in several regions by DOH Centers for Health and Development, with academic partners, ensuring that lessons from the PLGP contribute to the nationwide acceleration of Universal Health Care.

The 2025 VNR, presented nationally on August 27, 2025, provides a comprehensive assessment of the Philippines’ progress in achieving the SDGs. In his message, Department of Economy, Planning, and Development Secretary Arsenio Balisacan stressed the importance of sustained collaboration across sectors to institutionalize reforms and meet critical SDG targets.

The full 2025 VNR can be accessed here: https://sdg.depdev.gov.ph/voluntary-national-review-2025/