Davao City government forms health promotion body

The City Government of Davao created the Health Promotion Committee (HPC) to boost the implementation of health policies and programs in the city.

Acting Mayor Sebastian Duterte issued Executive Order (EO) No. 24 Series of 2022 also known as “An Order Creating The Health Promotion Committee (HPC) For The Governance And Implementation Of Health Promotion Policies, Programs, And Activities In the City-Wide Health Systems of Davao City” on June 8, 2022.

EO 24 cited Section 102 of the Local Government Code, which provides that the local health board, consistent with the technical and administrative standards of the Department of Health, shall create committees that will advise local health agencies on matters such as but not limited to, personnel selection and promotion, bids and awards, grievances and complaints, personnel discipline, budget review, operations review, and similar functions.

It also made attribution to Section 30 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of R.A. 11223, otherwise known as the Universal Health Care Act, provides that Local Government Units (LGUs): Section 30 of the Implementing Rules and Regulations of R.A. 11223: guided by the Health Promotion Framework Strategy, shall issue and implement effective health promotion policies, programs, and activities that promote health literacy and healthy lifestyle among their constituents, prevent and control diseases and their risk factors to advance population health and individual wellbeing;

The DOH Administrative Order No 2020-0042 on Health Promotion Framework Strategy also requires that an HPC be created by the City Wide Health Board to provide guidance and direction on the operationalization of health promotion as envisioned in the UHC Act.

“The HPC of Davao City shall be created to provide guidance to the City Health Board on health promotion policies, programs, and activities particular or involving the determinants of health and health risk factors,” the EO provides.

The City Health Office (CHO) shall oversee the implementation and evaluation of said health promotion policies, programs, and activities in the City-wide Health Systems (CWHS).

The HPC shall be composed of the city mayor as chairperson and the city health officer as co-chairperson. The members are the City Information Officer ( CIO), City Social Welfare and Development (CSWDO) Officer, and representatives of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) Region 11, Department of Education (DepEd) Region 11, City Environment and Natural Resources Officer (CENRO), Department of Health (DOH)—Region 11, Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Region 11,         Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) Representative, Liga ng mga Barangay, ALAGAD Mindanao Inc., and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP)-Region 11, and the Barangay Health Worker (BHW) Federation president.

The HPC is mandated to guide the development and planning of provisions on proactive and effective health promotion policies, programs, and activities campaigns in the CWHS; recommend stricter ordinances that strengthen and broaden existing health promotion policies, programs, and activities; and monitor and evaluate with the HPU the implementation of health promotion in the CWHS, and submit a semestral report to DOH and DILG detailing the progress and impact of the health promotion policies, programs, and activities.

The CHO will serve as the Secretariat tasked to spearhead all communications, minutes of meetings, and other documents for safekeeping. It will also coordinate and monitor the plans and activities of the committee and prepare and submit

reports to the Committee.

For the full provisions of the EO 24 Series of 2022, visit https://dcstaging.davaocity.gov.ph/transparency/executive-orders/2022-2/. CIO