Realizing that politics and public health must merge to bring about better health outcomes in our communities, the Department of Health and the Zuellig Family Foundation has conducted the Final Selection Workshop of Municipalities on Municipal Leadership and Governance Program (MLGP) for National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC) Municipalities last October 17, 2013 at Leyte Park Resort Hotel, Tacloban City.

City Mayor Stephany

Uy-Tan personally presented the thrust and advocacies of her administration relative to public health, which received positive and rave reviews commending the harmonious working relationship with her City Health Officer.

Present during the workshop were DILG Representative Anabelle de Asis, DOH 8 Assistant Regional Director Dr. Paula Paz Sydiongco, UP IHS Professor Josie Lydia Siega Sur and Zuellig Family Foundation Director Juan Villamor.

Aside from Catbalogan City, Sta. Margarita was present during the final selection.

MLGP reinforces the passion of the participants – Mayors and the Municipal Health Officers (MHO) together with their DOH Representatives – as Bridging Leaders for health. Bridging leaders emphasize ownership, co-ownership and co-creation in their governance framework. The Mayor, the MHO and the DOH Representatives constitute the “Healthy Trinity” or the health triumvirate in the municipalities who can rally stakeholders to stimulate a most responsive local health system in their respective areas.

Zuellig Family Foundation is a non-profit organization that focuses on being a catalyst in transforming the local health system in rural municipalities in the Philippines to attain the Millennium Development Goals on Health.

(with reports from Mr. Roldan John Ponay Larios, City Health Office)