30/03/2026
𝗗𝗔𝗬 𝟭 | 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀, 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗮 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲
On March 30, the Health Promotion Unit of DOH Cordillera CHD successfully spearheaded the Healthy Workplace Onboarding and Workshop, gathering committed Human Resource Heads from our Provincial, City, and Municipal LGUs.
This was more than just a workshop - it was the start of a shared movement to make every workplace in the Cordillera a space where health, safety, and well-being are truly valued.
The day opened with an inspiring presentation by Ms. Maylene Balbin, HPO II, who unpacked the Health Promotion Framework Strategy 2030 and its vision of creating health-enabling settings, recognizing Healthy Communities and Healthy Workplaces, and certifying Healthy Learning Institutions. Her presentation reminded everyone that health promotion begins where people live, learn, work, and grow.
This was followed by Ms. Jefferson D. Tamondong, HEPO III, who provided a comprehensive presentation of the Healthy Workplace Program as a whole - from its vision and framework to its practical implementation in local government settings.
The discussion began with the legal and policy foundations of the program, emphasizing that the Healthy Workplace initiative is firmly anchored on the Health Promotion Framework Strategy 2030, the National Policy Framework on the Promotion of Healthy Workplaces, and other supportive national issuances that call for health-enabling settings and protective workplace policies. This helped participants appreciate that the program is not merely an added activity, but a strategic and policy-driven mandate that strengthens governance and workforce well-being.
The presentation then transitioned into the program implementation process, guiding participants on how to establish systems, organize workplace wellness structures, conduct assessments, identify priority gaps, and align interventions with the 7 Priority Areas and 5 Action Areas of Health Promotion. Clear emphasis was placed on translating policies into day-to-day workplace practices that support nutrition and physical activity, environmental health, immunization, to***co, v**e and alcohol control, mental health, sexual and reproductive health, and violence and injury prevention.
A key highlight of the session was the walkthrough of the recognition and certification mechanisms, where participants were oriented on the standards, indicators, and documentation requirements needed for workplaces to be recognized as Healthy Workplaces. The discussion underscored the importance of FITools, proper means of verification, and continuous tracking of progress, ensuring that wellness initiatives are not only implemented, but also measured, improved, and sustained over time.
The session brought forward one powerful realization: a healthy workplace is built on strong policies, guided implementation, and evidence-based recognition systems. More than compliance, it is a commitment to creating workplaces where employees are protected, empowered, and able to thrive - because healthy employees remain the foundation of strong, resilient, and responsive local governance.
The session became even more meaningful through practical learning and shared experiences. Ms. Annalyn Baiwes, Nurse I from DSWD, generously shared their agency’s best practices and gave participants an initial walkthrough of FITool 2, showing how healthy workplace initiatives can be translated into real systems and programs.
Adding depth to the technical discussions, Ms. Loraine Ramos, HEPO III from Baguio General Hospital and Medical Center, provided a comprehensive deep dive into the effective use of FITool 2 and the proper Means of Verification, helping participants better appreciate the value of evidence-based documentation in achieving recognition.
To close the day, Ms. Tamondong, Ms. Baiwes, and Ms. Ramos led an engaging open forum that created a safe space for questions, reflections, and sharing of insights - strengthening not only knowledge, but also our shared commitment to healthier workplaces.
Day 1 reminded us that a healthy workplace is not built by policies alone, but by people who care enough to turn those policies into action.
Together, we move closer to workplaces where every employee feels safe, supported, and empowered to live well.
