BY GLORIA LEODIVICA INES ARANETA
Tagbilaran City Mayor Jane Yap represented by Ms. Cathelyn Torremocha, Chief of Staff of the City Mayor’s Office, highlighted the city’s health initiatives during the opening of the 10th Central Visayas Health Research and Innovation Conference (CVHRIC) on May 21, 2025, held at the Bohol Cultural Center.
Her message highlighted Tagbilaran City’s commitment to Universal Health Care (UHC) as a deeply human and inclusive endeavor, emphasizing that “Universal Health Care is our shared vision in Tagbilaran City—a vision that focuses on people, not just systems. On outcomes, not just outputs. A vision that follows every Tagbilaranon from womb to tomb, and sees each one not as a statistic, but as a story.”
The CVHRIC, now in its 10th year, serves as a vital platform for health researchers, practitioners, and policymakers in the region.
This year’s event is organized by the Central Visayas Consortium for Health Research and Development (CVCHRD), in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology Region VII (DOST-7), the DOST–Philippine Council for Health Research and Development (DOST-PCHRD), the Department of Health Region VII (DOH-7), and the Commission on Higher Education Region VII (CHED-7).
Proudly hosted by the University of Bohol, the event also includes key Bohol-based consortium member institutions such as Governor Celestino Gallares Memorial Hospital (GCGMH), Holy Name University, and Mater Dei College.
In her address, Ms. Torremocha underscored how Tagbilaran City has embraced the challenge of UHC through innovation, preventive care, and inclusive programs. She shared the city’s achievements, such as the 100% utilization of health funds, the launching of BUCAS—the first and only accredited urgent care center in Central Visayas—and the deployment of mobile clinics across all barangays to reach geographically isolated residents.
She also emphasized the importance of evidence-based policies and technological innovation, citing Tagbilaran’s implementation of the Electronic Logistics Management Information System (eLMIS) and the Electronic Appointment System for PhilHealth Konsulta as examples of how health research can be translated into impactful, community-centered services.
“Our journey toward Universal Health Care is built not just on policies, but on the stories and needs of our people,” Mayor Yap declared. “It is our moral responsibility to ensure that every Tagbilaranon—young or old, rich or poor—has access to quality, affordable, and timely health care.”
Mayor Yap’s representative concluded her speech with a call for continued collaboration among government agencies, health institutions, and local communities, stating, “As long as we continue to listen to our people, act on data, and innovate with empathy, the goal of Universal Health Care will not just be a policy—it will be a reality lived by every Tagbilaranon.”
The conference marks a significant step forward in regional efforts to integrate research, policy, and community participation in building a truly inclusive health system.