(22 June 2020) – Department of Health officials were invited to discuss governance innovations during the COVID-19 pandemic for the Department of Interior Local Government’s (DILG) online “Policy Forum Series on Decentralization, Constitutional Reform and Governance Innovations during the COVID-19 Pandemic”. The participants of the webinar were various stakeholders such as the local government executives and health officials, the academe, students, other agencies of government, and non-government organizations, among others.

Bureau of International Health Cooperation (BIHC) Director, Dr. Maria Soledad Antonio, discussed good practices that can be emulated from Viet Nam and New Zealand, countries that have prevented wide-spread transmission of COVID-19 within their territories. The key learnings delivered by Dir. Antonio were: 1) transparent and decisive leadership is vital; 2) preemptive action must be conducted based on evidence including targeted testing, aggressive contact tracing, early isolation and treatment of cases; 3) governments’ investment on research and development can pay off; 4) directed, creative, meaningful and empathic information campaigns help mobilize the public; 5) relevant sectors should be engaged; and more importantly, 6) infectious diseases should never be underestimated.

During the forum, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosette Vergeire also discussed the strategic direction and the whole-of-government actions collectively implemented by the national and local government units while OIC-Director Beverly Lorraine Ho of the Health Promotions and Communications Service (HPCS) discussed transitioning to the “new normal” society and how the general public plays vital role in preventing further spread of infections.

The DILG acknowledged and thanked the participants and the DOH for the attendance and active participation during the online Policy Forum Series.