Text by Wilson J Hormeguera | Photos by Anthony Jacob C Karagdag

Ten mayors in Misamis Oriental completed the Municipal Leadership and Governance Training of Xavier University – Governance and Leadership Institute (XU-GLI) at the Apple Tree Resort, Opol on November 12-14.

The leadership training was conducted in partnership with the Department of Health – Region X (DOH-X), United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF).  It 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.

The event was participated in by mayors Rey Buhisan of Magsaysay, Tomas R Gumahin of Binuangan, Danilo A Lagbas of Kinoguitan, Rommel Maslog of Talisayan, Manuel S Pamisa of Lagonglong, Pedro Q Panulaya of Balingoan, Alexis S Quina of Balingasag, Jaime Roa of Naawan, Maximo B Seno of Opol and Ken Niño T Uyguangco of Medina.

“This is a good training.  I hope this can be incorporated in the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) especially right after elections,” shared Balingasag Mayor Quina, who is also the president of the League of Municipal Mayors of the Philippines - MisOr Chapter.

“This will surely guide mayors in the better delivery of government services especially on health,” he added.

GLI continues to engage in governance as part of its thematic agenda under the Research and Social Outreach (RSO) cluster of XU.