June 30, 2019 — Mayors and Municipal/City Health Officers from 15 local government units (LGUs) from the Bicol Region graduated from the Municipal Leadership and Governance Program (MLGP) on 14 June 2019. The ceremony was held at the Manila Prince Hotel. 

The two-day event, the MLGP Leadership Retreat and Colloquium, was the culmination of the MLGP program for the local chief executives (LCEs) and municipal health officers (MHOs) from municipalities in Region V (Bicol Region), specifically from the provinces of Catanduanes, Camarines Sur, Albay, Sorsogon, and Masbate. 

The MLGP is a joint project of the Department of Health (DOH) and Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) with the UP College of Public Health as the academic partner. The 18-month training program consists of three four-day modules and is anchored on the Bridging Leadership Framework with focus on developing practical leadership and management skills and Primary Health Care. The purpose of the program is to have better health outcomes by improving local health systems in 609 priority municipalities. The health outcomes referred to are lowering Infant Mortality Rates (IMR), Maternal Mortality Rates (MMR), Malnutrition Rates, and incidences of Communicable and Non-communicable Diseases. 

In the retreat, candidates for graduation reflected on their experiences (struggles and victories) during the practicum course of the training program. The colloquium covered the brief history of the MLGP journey of Region V as told by Dr. Ernie V. Vera, Director IV, DOH Center for Health Development-Bicol, presentation of the candidates, graduation itself, and sharing of personal stories of transformation by four mayors. 

The public narratives shared by Mayors Maria Ahrdail G. Baldo (Camalig, Albay), Cielo Krisel B. Lagman-Luistro (Tabaco City, Albay), Roberto M. Matamorosa (Lupi, Camarines Sur), and Alejandro E. Gamos (Santa Magdalena, Sorsogon) were echoes of the achievements, insights, and challenges in health presented by each of the LGUs in an accompanying exhibit. 

Mayor Baldo stated that the community’s preferred health reality can be achieved if everyone—from leaders to the ordinary individuals—will own the problems their group has and are willing to initiate, innovate, and embrace change. 

Mayor Matamorosa believes that it is important to have in place a functional and efficient local health system customized to your community’s needs. “You also have to lead your community in coming up with long-term solutions to current health issues.”

Mayor Gamos explained that a leader and his community must look into the sociocultural factors that cause their health problems. Together, they should look for workable solutions for them.

The MLGP partnership between the DOH and ZFF began in 2013.  The ZFF is the resource partner for the Bridging Leadership Framework while various academic partners focus on the training and the partnership with CPH started in 2014.  Aside from Region V, the CPH also takes care of the training in two other regions under the DOH Centers for Health Development, namely, Region IV-A (CALABARZON) and Region X (Northern Mindanao). 

Fedelyn Jemena | Published in UP Manila Healthscape May – June 2019