ASoG conducts multi-regional stakeholders' consultation and data gathering for development of Epidemiology and Health Statistics Competency Framework

The Ateneo School of Government (ASoG), through its Policy Center, is providing technical assistance to the Department of Health - Epidemiology Bureau (DOH-EB) in designing the Epidemiology and Health Statistics Competency Model, which comprises a Framework and Proficiency Matrix. This initiative ensures that surveillance and epidemiology personnel, from national to local levels, possess the necessary competencies to effectively implement epidemiology and health statistics mandates, as outlined in the Republic Act 11332 or the Mandatory Reporting of Notifiable Diseases and Health Events of Public Health Concern Act.

As part of this project, ASoG conducted two major field activities: a Stakeholders' Consultation in Negros Occidental from 15 to 19 September 2025, and a data gathering activity in Palawan, MIMAROPA region, from 29 September to 4 October 2025. These activities gathered insights from implementers and stakeholders on essential institutional competencies and priority learning and development needs.

Stakeholders' Consultation in Negros Occidental

The consultation gathered perspectives from public epidemiology and health statistics personnel across Visayas and Mindanao through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Learning & Development (L&D) workshops to identify essential competencies and priority capacity-building initiatives.

The consultation, held at Nature’s Village Resort in Talisay City, Negros Occidental, brought together 49 participants from Epidemiology and Surveillance Units (ESUs) at the regional, provincial, city, and municipal levels, representing Western Visayas, the Negros Island Region (NIR), Central Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and the Davao Region, along with personnel from the DOH-EB national office.

The consultation formally opened with welcome remarks from Dr Gerna Manatad, Director IV of the DOH-EB, followed by presentations from Dr Vito Roque Jr, Chief of AEHMD; Dr Ruth Gerochi, Project Team Leader; Ms Ma. Cecilia Bulos, Project Deputy Team Leader; and Dr Geminn Louis Apostol, Project Technical Consultant. Over the three-day activity, participants took part in Competency Framework FGDs and L&D Workshops, which were conducted in parallel sessions grouped by organizational level and function. The consultation concluded with the ASoG team presenting the synthesized L&D outputs and initial competencies, with the presentation delivered by Mr Johann Vittorio Trinidad, Senior Project Associate.

MIMAROPA Data Gathering in Palawan

The five-day data gathering mission in Palawan collected comprehensive insights from internal and external stakeholders through Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) and FGDs, recognizing that effective epidemiological surveillance requires multi-sectoral coordination.

The mission engaged representatives from provincial, city, and municipal health offices, ESUs, planning and development offices, hospitals, Field Health Service Information System (FHSIS) coordinators, Health Event Management System (HEMS) personnel, disaster risk reduction and management offices, environmental offices, agriculture offices, and laboratory units across Palawan province, Puerto Princesa City, and Aborlan municipality. Courtesy calls with Puerto Princesa City Mayor Lucilo R Bayron and the Office of the Mayor in Aborlan, through the Municipal Administrator Mark Gil A Tito, were also conducted.

The consultation and data-gathering activities mark a significant step forward in the development of a comprehensive Competency Framework for Epidemiology and Health Statistics. By engaging stakeholders from multiple regions and organizational levels, ASoG has gathered valuable insights that will inform a competency model responsive to actual field needs. This initiative aims to strengthen the country's epidemiological surveillance system by ensuring that personnel across all levels are equipped with standardized, evidence-based competencies aligned with national health priorities.