Text by Jennifer F. Manongdo
Photos by Charmaine Lingdas, Sarah Hazel Moces Pulumbarit

The University of the Philippines Manila shared its integrated approach to health professions education and health workforce development with delegates of the DOH-WHO WPRO 2nd Ministerial Conference who visited the University on Aug. 27, 2026. 

The visit gave delegates an overview of the Philippines’ strengths in developing healthcare professionals and delivering quality healthcare services. The discussions also opened opportunities for future collaboration between UP Manila and the participating delegates. 

Discussions centered on UP Manila’s role as the national health sciences center and the various programs offered by the university, including the School of Health Sciences’ distinctive ladderized approach to health professions education and the Integrated Liberal Arts and Medicine (INTARMED) program. Faculty exchange and augmentation, as well as transnational education, were also discussed. The Community Health and Development Program was likewise featured, along with the integration of telehealth-related training into student education.

The Pacific delegates include representatives from the health ministries and institutions of the Solomon Islands, Samoa, Vanuatu, the Federated States of Micronesia, Cook Islands, and Fiji. Representatives from the Department of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO) also joined the visit.

UP Manila officials and faculty members who attended the meeting are Chancellor Dr. Michael L. Tee; Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Bernadette Heizel M. Reyes; UPCN Dean Dr. Sheila Bonito; UPCD Dean Dr. Michelle Segarra; UPCM Associate Dean for Planning and Development Dr. Jose Joven V. Cruz; Clinical Simulation Lab Director Dr. Maria Julieta V. Germar; Department of Anatomy Chair Dr. Ryner Jose D. Carrillo; and UP SIBOL Head of Research Program Dr. Philip B. Fullante.

The delegates of the Philippine-Pacific Health Initiative Ministerial Conference who joined the meeting are Dr. Humpress Harrington, dean of the Faculty of Nursing, Medicine, and Health Sciences, Solomon Islands National University; Layten Paul Jacob, deputy secretary of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Solomon Islands; Lily Vaiotu Leauga, assistant CEO of the Human Resources and Employment Relations, Ministry of Health, Samoa; Ratu Bani, executive officer of the Health and Social Services of Vanuatu; Marcus Samo, secretary of health and social affairs, Federated States of Micronesia; Augustus Elias, Federated States of Micronesia; Paul Katu Vaike Ongoua, human resources officer, Cook Islands; Jiosefa Saronicava Draunidalo head of Human Resources of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Fiji; John Ailir, public health administrator, Ministry of Health, Vanuatu; Hon. Kahealani Sariah Sinahemana Hekau, minister of Health and Education, Tourism, and Cultural Affairs, Niue; and Harris Ikitule, power manager, Ministry of Utilities, Niue. Also in the meeting are Kenneth Ronquillo, faculty member of the Ateneo School of Government; Dr. Glory Baltazar and Dr. Leslie Luces-Sedillo, provincial health officers of Bataan province; and Atty. Jefrie Sahagun, provincial administrator of Palawan. 

The WHO and DOH officers who attended the meeting are Dr. Amelia Latu Afuhaamango Tuipulotu, unit head of Health Systems, Access and Data, WHO Academy; Sunju Lee, technical officer, Capacity and Leadership Strengthening, Division of Data, Strategy, and Innovation, WHO-WPRO; Yuriko Hamada, technical officer for oral health, Division of Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Control, WHO-WPRO; Midori Akimoto, HC and Local Health Systems staff, WHO-WPRO; James Salisi, consultant, WHO-WPRO; Dr. Eunyong Ko, WHO representative to the Philippines; Dr. Ruth Politico, director, DOH-Health Human Resource Development Bureau (HHRDB); Catherine Arzobal, HHRDB staff; and Francis Cube, WHO Country Office staff. 

The discussions were moderated by Dr. Viviene Fe Fadrilan-Camacho, director of the UP Manila Office of International and Local Linkages.

As part of the visit, the group toured the UP College of Medicine (UPCM), including the Clinical Simulation Lab and UP Surgical Innovation and Biotechnology Lab (UP SIBOL), the first engineering facility inside a school, housed at the Henry Sy Sr. Medical Science Building. Following their tour at the UPCM, the delegates were split into two groups to visit the respective facilities of the College of Nursing (UPCN) and the UP College of Dentistry (UPCD).

Also featured in the tour are the Advanced Surgical Simulation and Dualan Lab and Plastination Lab at Calderon Hall; the simulation and skills laboratory of UPCN; and selected clinical, simulation, and pre-clinical facilities of UPCD, including the Simodont Dental Haptic Simulation Lab and Digital Dental Lab.

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