Palawan advanced to onsite validation for the Healthy Communities Award on January 21 placing the province among the first four local government units in the MIMAROPA region to pass the initial assessment, health officials said.
The validation was led by the Department of Health Center for Health Development MIMAROPA, in coordination with the Department of the Interior and Local Government through DILG Palawan, and was conducted at the Office of the Provincial Health Officer II in Puerto Princesa City.
The activity aimed to validate submitted data and verify the actual implementation of health programs and interventions, particularly those focused on promoting healthy communities and strengthening responsive and effective local health systems.
The Healthy Communities Award is an initiative that evaluates LGU performance in promoting public health, encouraging the creation of health-promoting environments aligned with national health and social development goals. It also provides performance-based incentives to LGUs that meet set standards and indicators.
The validation team was headed by Romalyn P. Racho, head of the Health Promotion Unit of CHD MIMAROPA, together with Geraldine Ronquillo and Gerecca Peradilla. Representatives from the Provincial DOH Office Palawan included Dianne Kay Guevarra and Jhun Winston Laurito.
Also part of the validation were DILG Palawan Provincial Director Juanito Olave Jr. and Randel Dotillos, along with personnel from the Provincial Planning and Development Office.
The Provincial Health Office, led by Provincial Health Officer II Dr. Faye Erika R. Querijero-Labrador, participated in the activity, joined by Health Service Delivery Division Head Dr. Justyne B. Roxas and members of the Health Promotion Unit.
Health officials said Palawan’s inclusion in the first batch of validated LGUs reflects ongoing efforts to institutionalize health promotion programs and improve local health governance across the province.
