Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue hailed by DOH for health initiatives

CEBU, Philippines — Lapu-Lapu City and Mandaue City received multiple awards for their respective health programs and services during the 2026 Local Health Systems Awards organized by the Department of Health-Central Visayas Center for Health Development (DOH-CVCHD).

Lapu-Lapu City emerged as the overall champion and received a P250,000 cash prize, while Mandaue City secured 14 awards and recognitions, including second place in the Regional Healthy Communities Awards under the Highly Urbanized City (HUC) category.

The awarding ceremony on Friday, November 6, was held at a hotel in Barangay Lahug, Cebu City, under the theme, “Advancing Universal Health Care through UNA Para sa Kalusugan: Stronger Health Systems, Healthier Communities, A Healthier Philippines by 2040.”

Aside from the overall championship, Lapu-Lapu City also won the Regional Healthy Communities Award, which came with a P200,000 cash prize, and the Performance-Based Incentive Award for Barangay Health Workers (BHWs), which carried P300,000.

The city’s health office also received gold awards for its 93.7 percent tuberculosis treatment success rate and its performance in providing post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for animal bite cases.

It also ranked first in the Measles-Rubella Supplemental Immunization Activity (MR-SIA) under the HUC category and received a silver award for its TB-HIV collaboration through Provider-Initiated HIV Counseling and Testing services.

Other recognitions included plaques of appreciation for its Animal Bite Program partners and MR-SIA stakeholders, a plaque for its Healthy Workplace Initiative, and a second-place finish in the Dugong Bayani Performance Award.

Barangay Caohagan also ranked fourth among top-performing barangays after reaching 100 percent of its eligible target children during the MR-SIA.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Ma. Cynthia King-Chan welcomed the recognition, saying it reflected the city’s efforts to strengthen its health programs and improve access to essential healthcare services.

“Grabe ang atong ka-proud ug garbo isip mga Oponganon,” King-Chan said in a statement.

She also credited the City Health Office, barangay officials, health workers, and BHWs for their contributions to the achievement.

“This achievement also belongs to all of you who work every day to protect the health and well-being of every community you serve,” she said.

King-Chan also thanked the DOH-CVCHD, led by Regional Director Dr. Joshua Brillantes, for its continued partnership and support for the city’s health workforce.

Meanwhile, Mandaue City placed second in the Regional Healthy Communities Awards under the HUC category, receiving P150,000.

It also ranked third in the Barangay Health Workers Performance-Based Incentives under the same category, with a P100,000 cash prize.

Mandaue ranked second in the MR-SIA and received silver awards for its tuberculosis program’s chest X-ray screening and molecular WHO-recommended rapid diagnostic (mWRD) testing rate.

Its Social Hygiene Clinic also ranked first in HIV testing and third in pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) enrollment.

The city also received the Apolinario Mabini Award for Voluntary Blood Services, along with recognitions for its rabies prevention campaign, electronic Logistics Management Information System (eLMIS) implementation, supply chain management, and Healthy Workplace Initiative.

Mandaue was also named a nominee in the 2026 Search for Outstanding Local Government Unit in Local Health Systems.

The awards recognized the performance of local health systems in implementing programs and delivering services covering immunization, tuberculosis prevention and treatment, HIV services, blood services, and community health initiatives. — (FREEMAN)