Baguio conducts health governance summit

More than 200 health workers, volunteers, civil society partners and city policy-makers gathered to share inputs and ideas in a whole-day governance summit on Wednesday, December 10, 2025.

The event was organized by the Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Health and Sanitation, Ecology and Environmental Protection led by City Councilor Elmer O. Datuin as chairperson in coordination with the City Health Services Office led by Dr. Celia Flor Brillantes.

“This is the first time that we are conducting this health governance summit because we wanted to listen to our workforce and health care providers. We need to consult with our health experts and exchange information or get feedback from our practitioners on approved policies as well as gather inputs on pending health legislations to build a Baguio that is healthy and resilient,” Datuin said.

Acknowledging that complex health challenges require collaboration, Datuin said the summit serves a platform for stakeholders to share insights and innovative ideas for local health system advancement.

Brillantes pointed out the need to improve services and policies related to mental wellbeing as an integral part of health as well the need to prioritize discussions on environmental challenges that affect existing health systems.

Participants were updated on existing ordinances and resolutions related to health presented by Felina Diaz of the SP followed by discussion on health governance in public health by Atty. Benedict Nisperos of Health Justice.

Topics for the afternoon sessions were on mental health awareness and updates on the salient provisions of the Mental Health Ordinance of the city by CHSO Mental Health and Wellness Coordinator Ricky Ducas, Jr.; followed by sharing on nutrition governance and healthy food procurement by Imagin Law lawyers; discussions on health and climate change by Engr. Julius Solano of the Department of Health – Cordillera Administrative Region; and ended with updates on PhilHealth’s Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) by Dr. Dominga Gadgad, PhilHealth-CAR Regional Vice President.

Vice Mayor Faustino Olowan assured participants that insights shared during the sessions will be the basis for the legislation proposals on health by 2026. – JM Samidan