Text by Wilson J Hormeguera | Photos by Anthony Jacob Karagdag
Xavier University – Governance and Leadership Institute (XU-GLI), in partnership with Department of Health – Region 10 (DOH-X) and Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF), conducted the 5th roll-out of the Municipal Leadership and Governance Training on November 25-27 at Deluxe Hotel, Cagayan de Oro City.
The training was aimed at improving health outcomes through an empowering leadership and governance, enhanced local health systems, active community participation and service delivery at the local level.
It was also geared toward creating an immediate impact on achieving related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) such as the reduction of infant mortality rate (IMR) and improving maternal health in 609 identified priority municipalities nationwide that need to improve in their local health systems by the end of 2015.
Following the Bridging Leadership Framework (BLF), the mayors and their municipal health officers went through a series of workshops highlighting the health inequities in their locality. Considering that a certain health inequity is a systemic problem, the training emphasized the importance of multi-stakeholders’ co-ownership approach in addressing it. Thus, the bridging leader together with the stakeholders can craft innovative solutions to health problems in the locality.
Eight local chief executives completed the training namely, Mayor Jason Almonte of Oroquita City, Misamis Occidental, Mayor Aisha Azis of Matungao, Lanao del Norte, Vice-Mayor Haneya Theresa T Chiong of Baliangao, Misamis Occidental, Mayor Evelyn Dumanjug of Bonifacio, Misamis Occidental, Mayor Jose Obedencio of Maramag, Bukidnon, Mayor Farhana Palawan of Poona Piagapo, Lanao del Norte, Mayor Francisco Paylaga Jr of Panaon, Misamis Occidental and Mayor Ibrahim Tuano of Tagoloan, Lanao del Norte.
Fr Roberto C Yap SJ welcomed the participants and highlighted the holistic formation and social outreach as special components of a Jesuit University. He also emphasized Xavier as a “school serving society” and imparted that development can be best achieved if leaders focus on education and health.
XU-GLI continues to engage in leadership and governance as one of its thrusts under Research and Social Outreach (RSO) cluster.