Gov. Edduba, BM Dangani join DOH Leadership, Governance Program to strengthen Kalinga health management

TABUK CITY, Kalinga — Governor James S. Edduba and Board Member Alfredo K. Dangani are taking part in a Department of Health (DOH) program aimed at strengthening local health governance and improving the delivery of health services in Kalinga.

Edduba and Dangani are among local health leaders participating in the DOH-Center for Health Development Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CHD-CAR) Leadership and Governance for Health Program for Local Health Boards (LHBs) being held in Clark, Pampanga from October 6 to 9.

The four-day program focuses on strengthening the leadership, governance and management capabilities of LHBs in support of Universal Health Care, particularly in health planning, coordination, resource mobilization and decision-making.

Edduba joined other local chief executives and provincial health officials in a session on the key roles of local chief executives in ensuring the functionality of LHBs and strengthening local health governance.

Participants also discussed the Universal Health Care implementation landscape, the roles of LHBs and lessons from other local health systems.

The program further focuses on improving coordination among local government units, health facilities and other health stakeholders, as well as strengthening health planning and resource mobilization.

An Executive Exchange also brought together officials from the Bureau of Local Health Systems Development, DOH-CHD-CAR and DILG-CAR to discuss local health governance and the responsibilities of local leaders in advancing Universal Health Care.

Dangani, who chairs the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Health and Sanitation, said the program would help health leaders better identify gaps in services and make decisions based on the actual needs of communities.

“Health programs are meaningful when they reach the people who need them. As public servants, we need to understand the gaps in our health system and work together to find ways to address them. What we learn here should help us make better decisions for our communities,” Dangani said.

Also part of the Kalinga delegation are Provincial Health Officer II Dr. Edward Tandingan, DMO V Lilia Say-awen, DILG representative Jack Gamatero, Dr. Gwendolyn Gabit of the Association of Municipal Health Officers of the Philippines, Dr. Klaire Bawalan as hospital representative, and members of the Office of the Provincial Health Officer and Management Support Unit.

The participation of Edduba and Dangani brings both executive and legislative perspectives to the discussions, with the governor representing the provincial executive leadership and Dangani representing the provincial board’s policy role in health and sanitation.

The Kalinga delegation is expected to apply the lessons and strategies from the program in strengthening the Provincial Health Board and promoting more coordinated, accessible and responsive health services in the province.

This version keeps the health-governance outcome at the center and removes details that read more like an event report.