Tagaytay City, Philippines—The Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), through its Graduate School of Public and Development Management (GSPDM), enhanced the competencies of health leaders in MIMAROPA by holding the Executive Course on Public Health Sector Finance Management and Human Resource Development (ECPHSFMHRD) for the Department of Health – Center for Health Development (DOH-CHD) Region IV-B on August 17-23, 2025 at the DAP Conference Center.

The week–long program capacitated 60 provincial accountants, Sangguniang Panlalawigan members, provincial health officers, provincial DOH representatives, local PhilHealth officers, DOH-CHD IV-B personnel, budget, treasury, and administrative officers. It focused on strengthening the Management Support Units (MSU), in managing Special Health Funds in the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act.

The thought-provoking discussion, intensive lectures and series of workshops were delivered by GSPDM faculty members Director Frances Rose Mamaril (Public Health Finance Management), Dr. Agustin Agos, Jr. (Public Health Sector Human Resource Development), and Dr. Kenneth Ronquillo (Futures Thinking in the Public Health Sector). They were joined by  resource speakers Professor Sheryll Grace S. Aromin (Department of Budget and Management), Ms. Cynthia F. Barrientos (Provincial Government of South Cotabato), and Ms. Analyn Fortaleza (DOH-Central Office).

Supervised by HGSPC Program Manager Nikki Billedo, with Deputy Program Manager Mark Atole, Learning Manager Susanna Gaan-Maranan, and Learning Associate Jessica Hernandez, the course also carries six credit units under DAP-GSPDM’s Master in Public Management major in Health Systems and Development (MPM-HSD) upon completion of all course requirements.