DOH completes 4th Batch of Municipal Leadership Governance Program in MIMAROPA

• Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=7&rid=866512
• Monday, March 14, 2016

By Celeste Anna R. Formoso [(PNA), LAP/CARF/EDS]

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, March 14 (PNA) -- The Department of Health (DOH) in the MIMAROPA Region recently completed the fourth batch of graduates of the Municipal Leadership Governance Program (MLGP) that included local chief executives and municipal health officers (MHOs).

“We are witness to the successful implementation of health programs in the communities by mayors and municipal health officers who have undergone the program and understood their role in improving the health of their municipalities as manifested by their health scorecards,” Regional Director Eduardo C. Janairo was quoted as saying during the opening of the colloquium on March 11 in Manila.

Glen Ramos of the Community Affairs and Media Relations Office of the DOH-MIMAROPA, said Monday that the fourth batch is expected to champion health, and ensure that municipal health systems in the region will be improved, and health needs of the poor will be addressed.

In Palawan, among the participants who graduated were mayors and their MHOs: Mayors Sue S. Cudilla and Dr. Rosalinda L. Losaria of Aracelli; Edna G. Lim and Dr. Cesar G. Rivera of El Nido; and Maria Angela V. Sabando and Dr. Leo C. Salvino of Roxas.

Ramos said the MLGP is an endeavor in partnership with the Zuellig Family Foundation and conducted under the Health Leadership and Governance Program through the Development Academy of the Philippines Graduate School of Public and Development Management as academic partner.

It is a one-year leadership program for Local Chief Executives (LCEs) and Municipal Health Officers (MHOs) supplemented by coaching and mentoring sessions on local health system development which focuses on Good Governance in the health sector, Health Service Delivery, Health Workforce, Health Information, Access to Essential Medicines and Healthcare Financing.

The program requires the participants to complete the 4-day Module 1 sessions, 6-month practicum, 4-day Module 2 sessions and another 6-month practicum before they can graduate.

The Colloquium is the final component of MLGP in which LCEs and MHOs will reflect on their leadership journey, highlight their achievements, health indicators and present their lessons learned during the one-year period.

The benefits of the program include personal development in health leadership and governance, improvement of municipal health outcomes, translate health outcomes into political gains, academic units leading to a Master’s Degree, networking and partnerships (building social capital), opportunity for health program grants and infrastructure development and the chance to gain the Seal of Health Governance recognition.