LINGAYEN, PANGASINAN — Governor Ramon V. Guico III led the “Empowering Barangay Health Workers Towards Strengthened Universal Health Care” Barangay Health Worker (BHW) Summit held on October 13–14, 2025, bringing together BHW Presidents from municipalities across Pangasinan for a two-day gathering that aimed at advancing the province’s Universal Health Care (UHC) implementation.
The event served as a platform to recognize the indispensable role of BHWs as the province’s health frontliners and to strengthen collaboration in public health service delivery. The program also included a lecture on the mental health gap, a presentation of the BHW progress report, and the oath-taking ceremony for the newly-elected BHW Federation officers led by Governor Guico himself.
In her speech, Provincial Health Officer Dr. Maria Vivian Villar-Espino emphasized the province’s goal of providing continuous guidance to BHWs so they can carry out their duties effectively. “We want to empower BHWs, to make them feel na we are here always to assist them, and to guide them in order to implement the programs of the Governor,” Dr. Espino said.
Meanwhile, Provincial Hospital Management Services Office (PHMSO) Head Dr. Tracy Lou Bitoy highlighted Governor Guico’s prioritization of health further recognizing the hard work of the health workers. “We are very lucky to have a governor like Gov. Mon Mon Guico who is really prioritizing health, so naka-focus po talaga ang flagship program niya doon. Kinikilala po talaga ng ating mahal na gobernador ang sipag at talento ng mga BHW dahil sila ang unang pinupuntahan ng ating mga kababayan, ” she stated.
Through the province’s expansive health programs and the dedication of BHWs, more than 1.5 million Pangasinenses are now enrolled under the PhilHealth Konsulta Program, now known as PhilHealth YAKAP. In support of these initiatives, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Pangasinan enacted Provincial Ordinance No. 345-2025, which provides remuneration to Pangasinan Medical Responders (PMRs) including BHWs, Patient Navigators, and allied health personnel as official partners in implementing the PhilHealth YAKAP. This ordinance institutionalizes their role in delivering primary care services such as consultations, health screenings, and diagnostics, while ensuring sustained financial and logistical assistance from the provincial government.
The PHO and PHMSO also continue to link local health units, hospitals, and communities through programs aligned with the Universal Health Care Act. These efforts complement ongoing initiatives to modernize provincial hospitals and extend access to medical services to every Pangasinense from the town centers to remote barangays.
By investing in local health workers and modernizing systems, the provincial government envisions Pangasinan as a model of accessible and people-centered healthcare.
(Danna Laureano, photo by Ervin Alcantara | PIMRO)
