As former Regional Health Director for Region X, Dr. H.J. Ramiro was the Congressman of Misamis Occidental before his appointment as Secretary of Health. This appointment was his vindication, after having been removed from his Directorship during the People’s Power reorganization in 1986. Dr. Ramiro thus returned to the Department of Health with enthusiasm and hope. With his strong political sense to meet the felt needs of the masses, he immediately launched People’s Health Day on 29 September 1995 to help indigent Filipinos more easily avail of expensive surgical and medical care. On the first day alone, the following were done in DOH-retained hospitals and medical center: 500 major surgeries, 665 minor surgeries, 363 electrocardiogram and ultrasound examinations, 4,086 laboratory examinations, 761 x-rays examinations and 17,188 medical consultations. Secretary Ramiro was able to re-establish communication with the catholic groups through the Catholic bishop’s conference of the Philippines not only concerning the controversial tetanus toxoid vaccine but also other population and family planning issues.

Dr. Ramiro had to hastily resign when controversies regarding financial transactions during his term become publicly uncomfortable.