UP Manila’s DEOH Marks 50 Years of Environmental and Occupational Health Leadership

March 10, 2026

Text by: Jericho Paolo L. Mabansag
Photos by: Sarah Hazel Moces S. Pulumbarit

The Department of Environmental and Occupational Health marked the launch of its 50th-anniversary celebration at the UP Manila Museum of a History of Ideas. Guided by the theme “Honor, Excellence, and Service in Environmental and Occupational Health,” the event officially opened a year-long series of activities dedicated to five decades of public health leadership.

The Department of Environmental and Occupational Health (DEOH) officially launched its year-long 50th-anniversary celebration on March 2, 2026, at the University of the Philippines Manila’s Museum of a History of Ideas, convening leaders from government, industry and international institutions to celebrate the breakthroughs of the past to chart a roadmap for the future of environmental and occupational health.

The event, themed “Honor, Excellence, and Service in Environmental and Occupational Health,” serves as a milestone for the department as it seeks to forge stronger multi-sectoral partnerships across academia, the public, and the private sector.

Dr. Fernando B. Garcia Jr., dean of the UP Manila College of Public Health and SEAMEO TROPMED Philippines Centre director, opened the ceremony by highlighting that “This golden anniversary is not only about longevity, it is also about impact. It is about safer workplaces, cleaner environments, stronger policies and generations of professionals who now serve across the Philippines and beyond.” Having inherited such a prestigious institution, the role of the next generation is to, “celebrate the past, strengthen the partnership in the present, and boldly shape the future of environmental and occupational health highlighting the department’s growth,” Dean Garcia noted.

Chancellor Michael L. Tee provided a message of support, emphasizing the steps made to see policies take shape in the university’s own grounds. “Within the next three months, we will be able to bid an STP (Sewage Treatment Plant) that will not only protect our own campus, but also protect the environment we are living in,” he shared.

Representatives from UP Manila constituent colleges, Manila Health Department, Department of Labor and Employment, the Department of Health and the Civil Service Commission, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Climate Change Commission, National Bureau of Investigation, Professional and Industry Organizations, alongside international partners from the International Labour Organization and the World Health Organization, attended the launch.

When asked what she considers the greatest national impact of DEOH is, Dr. Marilou Renales, a former professor and DEOH chair, shared that its Master of Occupational Health “has contributed a lot because there are many who got trained that are already officers, board of directors and leaders in our institution, the Philippine College of Occupational Medicine (PCOM).” She noted further that while the program has remained in-person, its impact is evident in its alumni network.

The celebration comes at a critical time for the nation.

Dr. Ricardo T. Balagot, president of PCOM, urged the department and its stakeholders to prioritize proactive measures against emerging global threats. “We have to be proactive…especially for climate change and the effects of climate change and the health of our workers,” Dr. Balagot said. He noted that the health of the workforce directly dictates the stability of the Philippine economy.

The ceremony concluded with a ceremonial toast and the presentation of the DEOH@50 commemorative roadmap led by Associate Professor Paul Michael R. Hernandez, the department chair. Prof. Hernandez urged the audience to remain steadfast in their mission. “Let us continue this journey together, towards health equity through environmental and occupational health,” he said.

As part of its 50th-anniversary roadmap, DEOH@50 will showcase a webinar series that brings together students, young researchers, and public health professionals to explore one of the most urgent challenges of our time: climate change and health.