(16 April 2021) – The new Development Objective Agreement (DOAg) between the Government of the United States of America represented by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), and the Government of the Republic of the Philippines represented by the Department of Health was signed on 18 May 2020, for the Program: Improved Health for Underserved Filipinos (IHUF).  This program is coupled with different projects/activities on Family Planning/Maternal-Newborn, Child Health and Nutrition, Tuberculosis, Community-Based Drug Rehabilitation, HIV/AIDS, and Health Systems Strengthening (policy and governance, health financing and supply chain management and other health areas as applicable.

To ensure better coordination and implementation of the USAID health projects/activities, the Administrative Cooperation Arrangement (ACA) was signed on 17 February 2021. This ACA establishes the organizational structures namely: DOAg Management Committee (DMC) and DOAg Steering Committee (DSC).  These structures were established to facilitate implementation and review progress of USAID’s health projects and objectives under DOAg. These structures shall ensure alignment with F+ for health strategic framework, strategic plans of the national programs, Philippine Development Plan 2017-2022 and the provisions of the Universal Health Care Law.

On 13 April 2021 at 1:30pm, via online platform the 1st DSC Meeting was conducted.  It was chaired by Director Beverly Lorraine Ho of the DOH-Disease Prevention and Control Bureau and co-chaired by Director Michelle Lang-Alli of USAID/Philippines. The focused of discussion include among others the progress updates of the USAID health projects.

The meeting was participated by the members of the DSC, composed of the different Offices/Bureaus/Centers for Health Development of the Department of Health, Commission on Population, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Health Insurance Commission, MOH-BARMM and USAID-Office of Health and its Chief of Parties. The Food and Drug Administration attended as well as guest.