07/09/2026
The Department of Health Center for Health Development Northern Mindanao, in partnership with the UP College of Public Health (UP CPH) through the Dr. Stephen Zuellig Program for Health Leadership and Governance (DSZPHLG), completed the four-day LeadGov4Health Training for the Local Health Board on 24-27 August 2026, at the Pearmont Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City.
The training brought together key members of the local health boards from the provinces of Bukidnon, Camiguin, Lanao del Norte, Misamis Occidental, and Misamis Oriental, as well as from two cities, Cagayan de Oro and Iligan.
The distinguished roster of attendees included Vice Governors, Vice Mayors, and local legislative health committee chairs. Also present were Provincial and City Health Officers, DOH Development Management Officers, and representatives from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Civil Society Organizations, and Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples.
Recognizing that a well-functioning local health board is the cornerstone of effective health governance, the training focused on developing high-performing Local Health Board (LHB) teams. The design was guided by the Bridging Leadership Framework of ownership, co-ownership, and co-creation toward high-performing local health boards.
A major highlight of the four-day program was the session โLessons from the Field: A Local Health Board Journey,โ featuring Governor James S. Edduba and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Edward B. Tandingan of the Province of Kalinga. Governor Edduba and Dr. Tandingan are a Fellow and an Associate Fellow, respectively, of the RRR Fellowship Program, a partnership among the UP College of Public Health (UP-CPH), UP National College of Public Administration and Governance (UP-NCPAG), and Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) to honor the legacy of the late Ambassador Romulo..
Drawing from Kalingaโs experience, Governor Edduba and Dr. Tandingan shared firsthand insights on how they successfully organized, strengthened, and sustained a functional Local Health Board (LHB). They illustrated what an effective LHB looks like in practice, highlighting concrete implementation experiences and results. They also discussed the key enablers and challenges that influence board effectiveness and shared practical strategies and good practices that participants could adapt and apply to strengthen their own provincial and city health boards.
Adding to the highlights was the panel session "Driving LHB Functionality: Key Roles of LCEs," an interactive roundtable discussion featuring a panel of experts: Hon. James S. Edduba (Governor, Province of Kalinga), Dr. Edward B. Tandingan (Provincial Health Officer, Province of Kalinga), Dr. Fernando B. Garcia, Jr. (Dean, UP CPH), Ms. Hazel L. Occeรฑa (Chief, Local Government Capability Development Division, DILG), and Dr. Raymond G. Dela Cruz (Assistant Regional Director, DOH CHD Northern Mindanao). The panel served as a dynamic platform for sharing insights, where participants actively engaged with the speakers and raised questions regarding the practical implementation, leadership dynamics, and operationalization of LHBs in their respective localities.
Complementing these sessions were lectures, collaborative problem-solving exercises, self-reflections, group activities, and a final-day practicum planning session. Through these, participants articulated a unified vision for health aligned with their legal mandates, analyzed local health system dynamics and performance gaps, established clear team norms and decision-making protocols, proposed critical action points to enhance LHB functionality, and designed a practical performance-accountability framework for implementation.
The training team was led by no less than the Dean and Centre Director of UP CPH/TROPMED Philippines, Dr. Fernando B. Garcia, Jr., supported by the Coordinator of DSZPHLG, Dr. Ernesto R. Gregorio, Jr., and Course Coordinator, Dr. TJ Robinson T. Moncatar. They were also joined by fellow resource persons- Dr. Maria Ellen Licup-Medina, Chief Operating Officer of Likhain PH, and Independent Consultant, Ms. Rosarie V. Gabuya. Technical and administrative support were provided by Ms. Kristine Fei S. Pataueg and Mr. Noel M. Pitallano, Jr.
By cultivating these leadership capacities, LHB members established collaborative ways of working anchored in trust, accountability, and shared ownership. They are now better equipped to navigate the challenges of decentralization, integrate local health priorities with broader development goals, and drive informed decisions that advance progress toward Universal Health Care.
