ILOILO City – The Iloilo Provincial Health Office (IPHO) honored top-performing local government units (LGUs), health partners, and retired health workers during the 2024 Health Excellence and Leadership (HEAL) Awards held on December 6 at the Iloilo Convention Center in Mandurriao district here.
With the theme “MoRProGRes Iloilo para sa Kalusugan at Kaunlaran Tungo sa Bagong Pilipinas”, the event celebrated the contributions of stakeholders in advancing the Iloilo Province-Wide Health System.
IPHO head Dr. Maria Socorro Colmenares-Quiñon said the awards recognize the efforts of development partners, hospitals, and LGUs with their health offices in delivering equitable, people-centered, and high-quality health services under the principles of good governance and multi-sectoral collaboration.
The major awards, acknowledging exemplary performance in Universal Health Care (UHC) implementation and local health system maturity, were presented to the following municipalities:
* Champion — Mina, Iloilo (Plaque and P200,000 cash prize)
* 1st Runner-Up — Batad, Iloilo (Plaque and P175,000 cash prize)
* 2nd Runner-Up — City of Passi (Plaque and P150,000 cash prize)
* 3rd Runner-Up — Tubungan, Iloilo (Plaque and P125,000 cash prize)
* 4th Runner-Up — Concepcion, Iloilo (Plaque and P100,000 cash prize)
Special Citations were also awarded to Pototan, Balasan, Tigbauan, Dueñas, and Barotac Viejo, with each municipality receiving a plaque of appreciation and P40,000 cash prize.
The awards ceremony was led by Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Dr. Mary Ann Palermo-Maestral, Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Dennis Ventilacion (representing Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.), DOH Region 6 Local Health Support Division Chief Dr. Mary Ann Sta. Lucia, Provincial Board member June Mondejar, and IPHO officials Dr. Maria Socorro Quiñon, Dr. Wendel Marcelo, and Dr. Rodney Labis.
In his message delivered by Atty. Ventilacion, Governor Defensor emphasized that health is the cornerstone of his social justice agenda, MoRProGRes ILOILO, or the Movement for a Robust, Progressive, Globally-Competitive, and Resilient Province of Iloilo.
“Through our partnership and collaboration, we bridge the gap and amplify our impact,” Defensor said, thanking LGUs, national agencies, and stakeholders for their trust.
He acknowledged that these partnerships have enabled provincial health programs to reach even the most remote households, elevating the health and well-being of Ilonggos.
“Together, we have elevated the health and well-being of Ilonggos,” he added./PN
