ILOILO City – The Department of Health (DOH) has appointed Dr. Mar Wynn D. Bello as its new regional director for Western Visayas, entrusting him with steering the region’s public health programs amid continuing challenges in disease control, healthcare access, hospital development, and workforce shortages.
Bello intends to strengthen public health programs through greater collaboration with local stakeholders and by using community health data to improve services, particularly for underserved populations.
His appointment follows the tenure of former Regional Director Helen Tobias.
The appointment of Bello, a Director IV, was announced by DOH Region 6 through its official Facebook page on July 8, signaling a leadership transition that the agency said would bring renewed direction to healthcare delivery across Western Visayas.
Before assuming his new post, Bello served as Director III and Assistant Regional Director of DOH-Cagayan Valley, where he led day-to-day operations and introduced health programs tailored to local needs.
He also previously headed DOH’s Bureau of Local Health Systems Development, where he helped strengthen local health systems and improve the quality of healthcare services in communities nationwide.
Just a day after assuming office, Bello met with Capiz’s Gov. Fredenil Castro to discuss the province’s health situation, including the proposed upgrading of the Roxas Memorial Provincial Hospital into a Level III Medical Center under House Bill 377 authored by Cong. Jane Castro.
The meeting also tackled funding for the Medical Assistance for Indigent Program (MAIP) and the persistent nursing shortage in Capiz, highlighting key healthcare priorities that Bello is expected to address in his new role.
Welcoming its new chief, DOH-6 expressed confidence that Bello’s leadership would further strengthen the agency’s mission of delivering quality healthcare services throughout the region.
“Every new beginning brings renewed hope, fresh perspectives, and opportunities to make an even greater difference. With warm hearts, we welcome our new Regional Director, Dr. Mar Wynn D. Bello, to the Department of Health Western Visayas Center for Health Development,” DOH-6 stated.
“May your leadership inspire us to serve with greater compassion, integrity, and excellence as we continue working toward one shared mission, a healthier and brighter Western Visayas where every life is valued and every community is cared for,” it added.
The Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC) likewise welcomed Bello’s appointment, expressing optimism over closer collaboration between healthcare institutions.
“As you begin this new chapter of leadership, we extend our heartfelt congratulations and best wishes for a meaningful and successful tenure. May your vision, dedication, and commitment to public service continue to inspire excellence in healthcare delivery and significantly enhance the quality of health services throughout the region,” WVMC said./PN
