Mayors from Central Luzon, Bicol Region, MIMAROPA earn certificate in MLGP (April 1, 2016)

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Several batches of local chief executives from Central Luzon, Bicol Region and the MIMAROPA Region (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon and Palawan), together with their municipal health officers, recently earned their certificates in the Municipal Leadership and Governance Program (MLGP) of the Development Academy of the Philippines, which conducted the program in partnership with the Zuellig Family Foundation and the Department of Health Regional Office.

MIMAROPA MLGP graduates with (top row L-R) DAP Chief of Staff Atty. Gideon Mortel, DOH Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo, DAP-GSPDM Associate Dean Dr. Ma. Corazon Tapang-Lopez, ZFF Vice President Arlene Gella and Mr. Daniel Zuellig.
MIMAROPA MLGP graduates with (top row L-R) DAP Chief of Staff Atty. Gideon Mortel, DOH Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo, DAP-GSPDM Associate Dean Dr. Ma. Corazon Tapang-Lopez, ZFF Vice President Arlene Gella and Mr. Daniel Zuellig.

A series of colloquia and conferment ceremonies was held for the program from January to March 2016, during which the one-year, two-module course was completed by six batches of participants.  The program basically aims to develop the leadership and governance capabilities of local chief executives as well as the leadership, managerial and clinical competencies of local health officers and community health workers to help improve the health conditions in their municipalities and cities.

The program also aimed to support the institutionalization of responsive policies and programs that improve local health systems, increase awareness and encourage active participation and health-seeking behavior in the community, and mobilize public-private collaboration to facilitate sharing of resources and replication of best practices of sustainability.

Health indicators

The participants, who also received coaching and mentoring from the Department of Health-Centers for Health Development during their practicum, are expected to improve their municipal health indicators as course deliverables, which include engaging other local stakeholders such as the municipal health boards.

Only one batch from MIMAROPA was conferred certificates.  They are Mayor Sue Cudilla of Araceli, Palawan; Mayor Edna Lim of El Nido, Palawan; Mayor Romy Salvame of Taytay, Palawan; Mayor Eric Constantino of Abra de Ilog, Occidental Mindoro; Mayor Salvador Py of San Teodoro, Oriental Mindoro; Mayor Alfredo Ortega Jr. of Victoria, Oriental Mindoro; Mayor Russel Madrigal of Buenavista, Marinduque; and Mayor Roberto Madla of Boac, Marinduque.  They completed the course along with their respective municipal health officers.

DOH-MIMAROPA Regional Director Eduardo Janairo, speaking during the region’s graduation ceremony, said the MLGP is an avenue to achieving the goals under the Sustainable Development Goals.  “I hope that after the May 9, 2016 elections, all of you will pursue full-blast what you have learned in the program,” Dr. Janairo said while also reminding the graduates to pursue their advocacies even after their terms of office.

Central Luzon graduates

Three batches also graduated from Central Luzon in this program.  The first batch was composed of Mayor Edgardo Flores of Minalin, Pampanga; Mayor Jorge Estanislao of Morong, Bataan; Mayor Concepcion Zarate of Pura, Tarlac; Mayor Venancio Macapagal of San Luis, Pampanga; Mayor Jose Yap Jr. of San Jose, Tarlac; Mayor Reynante Tolentino  Sr. of Dipaculao, Aurora; and their respective municipal health officers.

Central Luzon Batch 1 graduates with (front row L-R) Associate Dean Dr. Ma. Corazon Lopez, former Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral, DAP SVP Bernardo Dizon, and DOH Region III Director Leonita Gorgolon.
Central Luzon Batch 1 graduates with (front row L-R) Associate Dean Dr. Ma. Corazon Lopez, former Health Secretary Esperanza Cabral, DAP SVP Bernardo Dizon, and DOH Region III Director Leonita Gorgolon.

The second batch of graduates from the region, meanwhile, included Mayor Jose Enrique S. Garcia III of the City of Balanga, Bataan; Mayor Generosa de la Fuente of Samal, Bataan; Mayor Annette Balgan of Macabebe, Pampanga; Mayor Jose Angelo Dominguez of Castillejos, Zambales; Mayor Ronaldo Apostol of Cabangan, Zambales; and Mayor Carolyn Fariñas of San Felipe, Zambales as well as their health officers.

The third batch from Central Luzon, on the other hand, was composed of Mayor Leonora Wong of San Simon, Pampanga; Mayor Danilo Guinto of Masantol, Pampanga; Mayor Maria Angela Garcia of Dinalupihan, Bataan; Mayor Amando Geneta of Maria Aurora, Aurora; Mayor Alicia Pizarro of Pilar, Bataan; Mayor Jesse Concepcion of Mariveles, Bataan; Mayor Gloria Congco of Cabiao, Nueva Ecija; Mayor Andres Lacson of Conception, Tarlac; Mayor Michael Manuel of La Paz, Tarlac; Mayor Estela Antipolo of San Antonio, Zambales; and Mayor Generoso Amog of Palauig, Zambales.

Bicol Region graduates

For Bicol, those who were also conferred certificates in another ceremony were Mayor Gordon Olfindo of Viga, Catanduanes; Mayor Domingo Halum of Bulusan, Sorsogon; Mayor Augusto Manuel Ragrario of Magallanes, Sorsogon; Mayor Ben Espiloy of Monreal, Masbate; Mayor Francis Ong of San Vicente, Camarines Norte; Mayor Corazon Olos of Ocampo, Camarines Sur; Mayor Cordial Constantino of   Caramoan, Camarines Sur; Mayor Antonio Chavez of San Jose, Camarines Sur; Mayor Luisa D.C. Angeles of Bombon, Camarines Sur; and Mayor Carlos Irwin   Baldo Jr. of Camalig, Albay as well as their municipal health officers.

Meanwhile, making up the second group from Bicol that also finished the MLGP as part of Batch 4 were Mayor Flerida Alberto of Virac, Catanduanes; Mayor Ronald Felix Alfelor of Iriga City, Camarines Sur; Mayor Peter Cua of San Andres, Catanduanes; Mayor Jimmy Deleña of Presentacion, Camarines Sur; Mayor Zacarina Lazaro of San Pascual, Masbate; Mayor Joseph Al-Randie Wong of Pandan, Catanduanes; Mayor Enrico Capinig of Aroroy, Masbate; and Mayor Ann Gemma Ongjoco of Guinobatan, Albay together with their health officers.

Bicol graduates Batch 3 with (front row L-R) Associate Dean Dr. Ma. Corazon Lopez, DILG Region V Dir. Elouisa T. Pastor, DOH Asst. Sec. Dr. Nestor Santiago Jr., DOH Region V Dir. Dr. Napoleon Arevalo, DAP SVP Bernardo Dizon, and ZFF VP Arlene Gella.
Bicol graduates Batch 3 with (front row L-R) Associate Dean Dr. Ma. Corazon Lopez, DILG Region V Dir. Elouisa T. Pastor, DOH Asst. Sec. Dr. Nestor Santiago Jr., DOH Region V Dir. Dr. Napoleon Arevalo, DAP SVP Bernardo Dizon, and ZFF VP Arlene Gella.