The Province of Kalinga proudly graduated from the Roberto R. Romulo (RRR) Fellowship for Public Health Leadership and Governance last March 2025, joining Aklan, Davao de Oro, and Dinagat Islands in completing a year-long journey of transformative leadership. The 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, helped local leaders sharpen their governance skills and tackle real health system challenges.

“Our leadership journey has not been easy—it mirrors the long and winding road of achieving Universal Health Care,” said Kalinga Governor James Edduba. “But along the way, we’ve seen real progress, and we celebrate both the small and big wins.”

Governor Edduba’s fellowship journey focused on three critical areas: reducing maternal deaths, improving emergency response, and strengthening mental health programs. His team finalized a province-wide referral manual and mobilized Community Health Action Teams (CHATs) to serve as on-the-ground health coordinators. “We capacitated our health workers to identify knowledge gaps and improve services where it matters most,” he explained.

To address the rise in road traffic injuries, Kalinga established an emergency response team and developed a province-wide accident reporting system. “Before, reports were fragmented. Now we use standard forms for all vehicular incidents—this allows us to make better, evidence-based decisions,” he said.

For mental health, the province passed an executive order mandating government offices to support mental health initiatives. A technical working group was formed to lead suicide prevention efforts, ensure data privacy, and guide media reporting. “We’re building systems to support the mental wellness of our people,” Gov. Edduba added.

Partnerships have been key to Kalinga’s progress. The province secured over 200 million pesos in medical assistance and signed agreements with apex hospitals to expand access to specialized care. “We engaged nearby provinces, private clinics, and national agencies. Our success is built on collaboration,” said the governor.

Governor Edduba’s commitment to health leadership started long before the RRR Fellowship. “When I was still Mayor, my nephew got sick and was sent to the ICU. I remember praying in the chapel beside him, promising I’d do everything in my power to improve health in our province. That moment changed me,” he shared.

Now, with better systems in place and a stronger network of partners, Kalinga is more equipped than ever to continue its health reform journey. As Governor Edduba said, “No single leader can do it all. But together, we can truly do great things.”

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.”