Capitol teams visit Bohol, Manila for benchmarking

CEBU, Philippines — The Capitol sent delegations from the Public Information Office, headed by office chief Ainjeliz de la Torre Orong, and a team of engineers led by Provincial Health Consultant Dr. Nikki Catalan to Manila and Bohol, respectively, for benchmarking in hopes of gaining expertise and insights for upcoming endeavors in Cebu’s health and communications sectors.

In an effort to develop health infrastructure and facilities, the Capitol-led team conducted a second visit last February 11, after their initial tour last September 2025, to one of the country's most developed tertiary hospitals, the Governor Celestino Gallares Multi-Specialty Medical Center in Bohol.

Their return to the hospital gave them the chance to investigate the medical center's hospital design, patient flow systems, regulatory compliance, engineering infrastructure, and operational integration.

Catalan acknowledged that this immersive exchange of information is essential for good governance. “We do not build blindly. We benchmark, we study, and we adapt thoughtfully for Cebu,” she said.

The team consists of members from the Provincial Engineering Office, led by department head Engr. Hector Jamora.

Along with healthcare upgrades, the province is also in the process of strengthening the implementation of the Freedom of Information (FOI) program. The PIO delegation visited the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) last February 12.

Last year, Cebu was recognized by PCO as one of the provinces that passed FOI guidelines, demonstrating its commitment to ensuring that the public has the right to access and request information held by the government.

At the Malacañang Compound, delegates proceeded to the Freedom of Information–Program Management Office for a briefing, where national government officials conveyed best practices, compliance mechanisms, and operational strategies for effective FOI rollout.

The team also paid a courtesy call on PCO Secretary Dave Gomez and was also given the opportunity to examine key facilities, such as the briefing room utilized for the Palace Press Officer’s televised press conferences. — Hannah Gresha Abayon, UP Cebu intern (FREEMAN)