Kalusugan Muna Health Forum conducted by Galing Pook at AIM

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“Achieving universal health care entails LGUs making health care a key performance area for effective local governance while at the same time promoting people’s participation and multi-sector cooperation.” This is one of the affirmations by the LGU participants in their manifesto presented at the Kalusugan Muna! Policy Forum on Health at the Asian Institute of Management in Makati City.

The forum was organized by the Galing Pook Foundation in partnership with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, Land Bank of the Philippines and the Zuellig Family Foundation.  Credible LGU executives and managers who are champions of good governance come together with their lessons and policy proposals for the national leadership on key strategic health reform areas.

Best practices on health that worked at the local levels were presented and discussed in view of having these adopted on a national scale whenever appropriate.  Policies were explored, discussed and recommended by the Galing Pook champion LGUs and experts to improve the health services delivery.

The Kalusugan Muna! Policy Forum on Health was held on May 28 to 29, 2009.  The first day was a workshop by 49 participants including an assistant secretary for regional development, 3 governors, a congressman, 7 mayors, 2 vice mayors and the rest from LGU legislative bodies, health departments and technical staff.  Universal health care was defined, strategies recommended, and appropriate policy responses generated for local governments and the national government.

On the second day, five Galing Pook awardees presented their winning local health programs to the plenary composed of representatives from local governments, national government agencies, non-government organizations, private development foundations and international donor agencies.  This was followed by the presentation of the Health Champions’ Manifesto, and recommendations and responses from leading health experts.  An open forum capped the two-day conference.

Dean Nieves Confesor of AIM and Mr. Mirko Herberg of FES gave the welcome and opening remarks respectively. Assistant Secretary Raul Banias, the Presidential Assistant for Western Visayas, Governors Emilio Macias of Negros Oriental and Felipe Nava of Guimaras, Vice Mayor Valente Yap of Bindoy in Negros Oriental, and Dr. Andy Astom of the La Union Medical Center presented for the Galing Pook awarded LGU health programs. Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan presented a brief health situation and policy recommendations, while former DOH Secretary Dr. Alberto Romualdez and Dr. Lilibeth David of BLHD-DOH gave their reactions. Dr. Milwida Guevara delivered the closing address with Professor Nereus Acosta as the master of ceremonies for the entire second day of the forum.

You may download the Forum Documentation here.

 

Presentations:

1. Bindoy Social Health Insurance Indigency Program - Bindoy, Negros Oriental (Vice Mayor Valente Yap)

2. Harnessing Synergy in Integrated Population, Health, and Environment Programming - Concepcion, Iloilo (Asec. Raul Banias, MD)

3. La Union Medical Center - La Union (Dr. Fernando Astom)

4. Inter-LGU-NGO Partnership in Health Care Delivery - Negros Oriental (Gov. Emilio Macias II, MD)

5. Guimaras Health Insurance Project - Guimaras (Gov. Felipe Hilan Nava, MD)

6. Manifesto of LGU Champions on Health

7. Strategic Health Policy Recommendations (Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan)

 

Photos:

 Cong. Arnaiz, Gov. Lee, and Gov. Nava Dok Eddie with Gov. Macias, Cong. Arnaiz, Gov. Lee, and Gov. Nava

 

 
 SP BM Maricar Zamora-Apsay of Compostela Valley presenting workshop outputs SP BM Ronaldo Pader of Cotabato presenting workshop outputs
  
 Mr. Mirko Herberg of the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung delivering his remarks Dean Nieves Confesor of the Asian Institute of Management delivering her remarks
  
 Vice Mayor Valente Yap of Bindoy delivering his presentation Asec. Raul Banias, former Mayor of Concepcion presenting Concepcion's PHE Program
  
 Dr. Fernando Astom of the La Union Medical Center From L-R: Gov. Macias of Negros Oriental, Dr. Acosta, and Gov. Nava of Guimaras
  
 SP BM Maricar Zamora-Apsay presenting the LGU Manifesto Dr. Jaime Galvez Tan presenting his policy recommendations
  
 Dr. Alberto Romualdez giving his reaction Dr. Lilibeth David of the BLHD-DOH giving her reaction
  
 Dr. Nene Guevara delivering the closing remarks
  
 LGU Health Champions