Text by Charmaine A. Lingdas
Photos by Sarah Hazel Moces S. Pulumbarit
A new partnership between the University of the Philippines Manila (UP Manila) and the Institute of Health Science Mitra RIA Husada Jakarta in Indonesia aims to improve the call for reproductive healthcare policies and community education on gender-based violence.
Joining the ranks of other international universities that have partnered with UP Manila due to the latter’s strong ranking among top universities, the newly inked Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) also includes academic collaboration, research, and community programs in public health, midwifery, faculty and staff exchanges, and reproductive health.
“This cooperation is an opportunity for us to exchange knowledge and learn from each other,” said UP Manila Chancellor Dr. Michael L. Tee during the signing ceremony on Oct. 16, 2025. “Our engagement will allow us to understand different cultures and learn from them. And I hope that through this cooperation, UP Manila can meaningfully contribute to the health sciences in Indonesia as much as we also would like to learn from our partners.”
Under the agreement, UP Manila will share access to regional publications and academic journals, while the Institute of Health Science Mitra RIA Husada will send faculty and researchers for academic exchanges, fieldwork, and lectures. The partnership also highlights community welfare through training for midwives and public health practitioners, joint policy work to protect women and girls, and the exchange of practical knowledge for community-based healthcare professionals.
Dr. Andi Julia Rifiana, Chair of the Organizing Board of SMRHJ (Karya Bhakti RIA Pembangunan Foundation), spoke about the significance of the relationship between the two nations. “We are here in the heart of Philippine higher education, not merely as guests but as potential partners who are part of the spirit of regional collaboration,” Dr. Rifiana stated, adding that “Indonesia and the Philippines are ‘brother and sister in Southeast Asia, born by history, culture, and self-aspiration for regional progress.”
Meanwhile, Dra. Sri Danti Anwar, headmaster of the institute, described the partnership as “a significant milestone in our journey toward advancing public health, health science education, enhanced reproductive health system, and research.” She emphasized that “by pooling our resources and expertise, we aim to create a nurturing environment that allows ideas to flourish and grow.”
Dr. Anwar added, “The increasing complexities of disease, health inequities, and global health emergencies demand a stronger academic and research collaboration across borders, in this case between the Philippines and Indonesia.”
Dr. Sharon Villanueva from the College of Public Health expressed her gratitude to the Indonesian delegation for their commitment and partnership. “Thank you very much for choosing the University of the Philippines as your partner, not only in academics but also in research,” she said. She emphasized that UP Manila looks forward to forging meaningful collaborations with various institutions across countries, noting that “community health is one of the strengths of UP Manila.”#
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