The city government is beefing up the health promotion arm of the City Health Services Office (CHSO) in compliance with Republic Act 11223 or the Universal Health Care Act.
Mayor Benjamin Magalong in two separate executive orders created the Health Promotion Committee (HPC) and the Health Promotion Unit at the CHSO for the management and implementation of health promotion policies, programs, and activities in the city’s health system.
The HPC will be chaired by the city health officer with the health promotion officer IV/III as vice chair.
The sector representatives include the Population Office, Sanitation Division, and Mental Health Office of the CHSO; City Planning and Development Office; City Public Information Office; City Social Welfare and Development Office; Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs; City Persons with Disability Affairs Office; and Sangguniang Kabataan Baguio City Federation.
Other members are the Department of the Interior and Local Government field office; Department of Education-City Schools Division Office; Department of Labor and Employment; Philippine Information Agency; Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center-Health Promotion Office; health education promotions officer-designates of the St. Louis University Sacred Heart Medical Center, Pines City Doctors Hospital, Notre Dame De Chartres Hospital and Baguio Medical Center; and Baguio-Benguet Medical Society.
The Department of Health-Cordillera, DOH-Baguio City Office, Department of Science and Technology-Cordillera, and a health promotions specialist are also members.
The HPC will guide the City Health Board in addressing determinants of health and health risk factors.
The HPU on the other hand will support the operationalization of health promotion in the city and ensure the development and implementation of health promotion policies and programs. – Aileen P. Refuerzo
