Council for Health and Development

14/04/2026

𝟮 𝗗𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗼! 💚

Zoom webinar registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/.../WN_AA87EF7pTM-6osyAdUDdOg...

Manood at makilahok sa Byernes, Abril 17, 6:00 - 7:30 PM Manila time (12:00NN - 1:30PM CEST) sa isang webinar tungkol sa 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗮 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘀: 𝗔𝗸𝘀𝘆𝗼𝗻 𝗻𝗴 𝗞𝗼𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝘀𝗮 𝗞𝗮𝗹𝘂𝘀𝘂𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗽𝘂𝗻𝗮𝗻 na inorganisa ng Viva Salud België at Council for Health and Development, at hosted by Medicus Mundi International – Network Health for All (MMI)!

Alamin ang papel ng mga community health workers (CHWs) sa pag-oorganisa ng komunidad at mga kampanya sa kalusugan, sa panahon ng mga sakuna at health emergencies tulad ng pandemya, at sa mas malawak na mga kilusan na nagtataguyod ng mga karapatang tao at demokratikong pakikilahok.

Speakers:
1. Marie-Lou Badie - Policy and Campaign Officer for the Philippines, Viva Salud.
2. Emelina Buenaventura - Executive Director, Council for Health and Development.
3. Marilyn Roda Sebastian - CHW, Pasig City - CHWs’ role in community organizing and health campaigns.
4. Rosebe Tulawe – CHW, Quezon City - CHWs’ role during disasters and health emergencies (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic, flooding, evacuation situations).
5. Rayne Suyam-Gallawen – CHW and staff of Community Health Education, Services, and Training in the Cordillera Region (CHESTCORE)

https://www.medicusmundi.org/community-health-workers.../

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Join us on Friday, April 17 6:00 - 7:30 PM Manila time on a webinar on 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀: 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 organized by Viva Salud België and Council for Health and Development, hosted by Medicus Mundi International – Network Health for All (MMI)!

Learn about the role of community health workers (CHWs) in community organizing and health campaigns, during disasters and health emergencies such as pandemic and in broader movements advocating for people's rights and democratic participation.

Speakers:
1. Marie-Lou Badie - Policy and Campaign Officer for the Philippines, Viva Salud.
2. Emelina Buenaventura - Executive Director, Council for Health and Development.
3. Marilyn Roda Sebastian - CHW, Pasig City - CHWs’ role in community organizing and health campaigns.
4. Rosebe Tulawe – CHW, Quezon City - CHWs’ role during disasters and health emergencies (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic, flooding, evacuation situations).
5. Rayne Suyam-Gallawen – CHW and staff of Community Health Education, Services, and Training in the Cordillera Region (CHESTCORE)

https://www.medicusmundi.org/community-health-workers.../

13/04/2026

𝟯 𝗗𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗼! 💚

Zoom webinar registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/.../WN_AA87EF7pTM-6osyAdUDdOg...

Manood at makilahok sa Byernes, Abril 17, 6:00 - 7:30 PM Manila time (12:00NN - 1:30PM CEST) sa isang webinar tungkol sa 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗮 𝗣𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘀: 𝗔𝗸𝘀𝘆𝗼𝗻 𝗻𝗴 𝗞𝗼𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝘀𝗮 𝗞𝗮𝗹𝘂𝘀𝘂𝗴𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝘁 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗽𝘂𝗻𝗮𝗻 na inorganisa ng Viva Salud België at Council for Health and Development, at hosted by Medicus Mundi International – Network Health for All (MMI)!

Alamin ang papel ng mga community health workers (CHWs) sa pag-oorganisa ng komunidad at mga kampanya sa kalusugan, sa panahon ng mga sakuna at health emergencies tulad ng pandemya, at sa mas malawak na mga kilusan na nagtataguyod ng mga karapatang tao at demokratikong pakikilahok.

Speakers:
1. Marie-Lou Badie - Policy and Campaign Officer for the Philippines, Viva Salud.
2. Emelina Buenaventura - Executive Director, Council for Health and Development.
3. Marilyn Roda Sebastian - CHW, Pasig City - CHWs’ role in community organizing and health campaigns.
4. Rosebe Tulawe – CHW, Quezon City - CHWs’ role during disasters and health emergencies (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic, flooding, evacuation situations).
5. Rayne Suyam-Gallawen – CHW and staff of Community Health Education, Services, and Training in the Cordillera Region (CHESTCORE)

https://www.medicusmundi.org/community-health-workers.../

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Join us on Friday, April 17 6:00 - 7:30 PM Manila time on a webinar on 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀: 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗝𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗲 organized by Viva Salud België and Council for Health and Development, hosted by Medicus Mundi International – Network Health for All (MMI)!

Learn about the role of community health workers (CHWs) in community organizing and health campaigns, during disasters and health emergencies such as pandemic and in broader movements advocating for people's rights and democratic participation.

Speakers:
1. Marie-Lou Badie - Policy and Campaign Officer for the Philippines, Viva Salud.
2. Emelina Buenaventura - Executive Director, Council for Health and Development.
3. Marilyn Roda Sebastian - CHW, Pasig City - CHWs’ role in community organizing and health campaigns.
4. Rosebe Tulawe – CHW, Quezon City - CHWs’ role during disasters and health emergencies (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic, flooding, evacuation situations).
5. Rayne Suyam-Gallawen – CHW and staff of Community Health Education, Services, and Training in the Cordillera Region (CHESTCORE)

https://www.medicusmundi.org/community-health-workers.../

12/04/2026

Manood at makilahok sa Byernes, Abril 17, 6:00 - 7:30 PM Manila time (12:00NN - 1:30PM CEST) sa isang webinar tungkol sa Community Health Workers sa Pilipinas: Aksyon ng Komunidad para sa Kalusugan at Katarungang Panlipunan na inorganisa ng Viva Salud België at Council for Health and Development, at hosted by Medicus Mundi International – Network Health for All (MMI)!

I-click ang link para makapagpa-rehistro sa zoom webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AA87EF7pTM-6osyAdUDdOg #/registration

Alamin ang papel ng mga community health workers (CHWs) sa pag-oorganisa ng komunidad at mga kampanya sa kalusugan, sa panahon ng mga sakuna at health emergencies tulad ng pandemya, at sa mas malawak na mga kilusan na nagtataguyod ng mga karapatang tao at demokratikong pakikilahok.

Speakers:
1. Marie-Lou Badie - Policy and Campaign Officer for the Philippines, Viva Salud.
2. Emelina Buenaventura - Executive Director, Council for Health and Development.
3. Marilyn Roda Sebastian - CHW, Pasig City - CHWs’ role in community organizing and health campaigns.
4. Rosebe Tulawe – CHW, Quezon City - CHWs’ role during disasters and health emergencies (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic, flooding, evacuation situations).
5. Rayne Suyam-Gallawen – CHW and staff of Community Health Education, Services, and Training in the Cordillera Region (CHESTCORE)

https://www.medicusmundi.org/community-health-workers-philippines/

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Join us on Friday, April 17 6:00 - 7:00 PM on a webinar on Community Health Workers in the Philippines: Community Action for Health and Social Justice organized by Viva Salud België and Council for Health and Development, hosted by Medicus Mundi International – Network Health for All (MMI)!

Click the link to register for zoom webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AA87EF7pTM-6osyAdUDdOg #/registration

Learn about the role of community health workers (CHWs) in community organizing and health campaigns, during disasters and health emergencies such as pandemic and in broader movements advocating for people's rights and democratic participation.

Speakers:
1. Marie-Lou Badie - Policy and Campaign Officer for the Philippines, Viva Salud.
2. Emelina Buenaventura - Executive Director, Council for Health and Development.
3. Marilyn Roda Sebastian - CHW, Pasig City - CHWs’ role in community organizing and health campaigns.
4. Rosebe Tulawe – CHW, Quezon City - CHWs’ role during disasters and health emergencies (e.g., COVID-19 pandemic, flooding, evacuation situations).
5. Rayne Suyam-Gallawen – CHW and staff of Community Health Education, Services, and Training in the Cordillera Region (CHESTCORE)

https://www.medicusmundi.org/community-health-workers-philippines/

07/04/2026

𝗔𝗺𝗶𝗱𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗨𝗦 𝘄𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱, 𝘄𝗲 𝗺𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲'𝘀 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵!

"𝘗𝘢𝘢𝘯𝘰 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘭 𝘯𝘢 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘴𝘪𝘯𝘢𝘴𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘵𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘭𝘭 𝘴𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘮 𝘯𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯 𝘯𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘬𝘢𝘩𝘪𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘢𝘯 𝘢𝘺 𝘭𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘭𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘺𝘰 𝘴𝘢 𝘬𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘴𝘶𝘨𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘯. 𝘕𝘢 𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘣𝘢𝘸𝘢𝘵 𝘨𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘸𝘪𝘯 𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘴𝘢𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘢 𝘢𝘺 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘢𝘱𝘦𝘬𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘣𝘢𝘯𝘴𝘢 𝘢𝘵 𝘴𝘢 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘯 𝘯𝘪𝘵𝘰. 𝘒𝘢𝘵𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘥 𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘺𝘰𝘯, 𝘴𝘢 𝘨𝘪𝘺𝘦𝘳𝘢 𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘭𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘢𝘥 𝘯𝘨 𝘌𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘥𝘰𝘴 𝘜𝘯𝘪𝘥𝘰𝘴 𝘴𝘢 𝘐𝘳𝘢𝘯, 𝘪𝘵𝘰 𝘢𝘺 𝘯𝘢𝘴𝘨𝘥𝘶𝘥𝘶𝘭𝘰𝘵 𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘨𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘯𝘢 𝘥𝘦𝘵𝘳𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘢𝘭 𝘴𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘴 𝘯𝘢𝘬𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘮𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘮𝘢𝘺𝘢𝘯 𝘴𝘢 𝘮𝘶𝘯𝘥𝘰." - Dr. Eleanor Jara, Co-convenor of CPRH

On April 7, health workers, doctors, nurses, health advocates and representatives from
various progressive health organizations spoke in front of World Health Organization's Western Pacific Region office in Manila in commemoration of World Health Day.

Due to US-Israel ongoing imperialist war of aggression against Iran and in West Asia, the price of crude oil as well as basic commodities continue to rise, the price of medicine will also be affected. Here in the Philippines, with the already expensive cost of healthcare including medicine and a deteriorating healthcare system, the people are further pushed away from accessing the medicines they need and even basic health services.
It is important that we must have a national pharmaceutical industry to lower the price of medicine and be no longer dependent on foreign importation of medicine, in addition on removing the 12% VAT on medicines. The government must strengthen the public health care system by allocating 5% of the GDP to health budget and directly fund public hospitals and facilities, increase the salary of health workers to P36,000 and P50,000 to nurses and other allied professionals, and to pass the HB 205 or the Free, Comprehensive, Progressive, National Health Care System bill.

As the government lacks comprehensive solution and inaction to the crisis the people are facing, we must continue to organize the people in our communities, build and strengthen health workers' unions in hospitals, and struggle for people's right to health. Let us continue our fight for a free, comprehensive, progressive, national health care system.

𝗘𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗦-𝗜𝘀𝗿𝗮𝗲𝗹 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗪𝗮𝗿 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗜𝗿𝗮𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝘀𝗶𝗮!
𝗥𝗲𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝟭𝟮% 𝗩𝗔𝗧 𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀! 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲!
𝗔𝗹𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝟱% 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗗𝗣 𝘁𝗼 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵!
𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗻𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘀!
𝗙𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲, 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲, 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺!

02/04/2026

02/04/2026

Sa Laban ng Tsuper, Kasama ang Komyuter!

Kaisa ang Council for Health and Development at Coalition for People's Right to Health sa laban ng ating mga tsuper para sa kanilang kabuhayan na nangaganib mawala dahil sa tuloy-tuloy na pagtaas ng presyo ng langis sanhin ng patuloy na gyerang agresyon ng imperyalistang US at Israel laban sa Iran habang kakarampot lang ang kinikita sa pamamasada. Sila ang naghahatid sa atin patungo sa mga ospital, paaralan, pagawaan, lugar na pinagtatarabahuan at tahanan, kaya naman tuloy-tuloy tayong makibaka para sa kabuhayan at kalusugan ng mamamayan!

VAT at Excise Tax sa Lagis, Tanggalin!
Oil Deregulation Law, Ibasura!
Sahod Itaas! Presyo Ibaba!
Itigil ang gyerang agresyon ng imperyalistang US at Israel sa Iran at sa Kalunrang Asya!
Kalusugan ng Mamamayan, Ipaglaban!

02/04/2026

The cost of medicine here in the Philippines is already expensive as we import our medicine in other countries and having 12% VAT on medicines. This is why we must have a national pharmaceutical industry so that we don't have to rely on foreign imports and to lower the price of medicine on top of removing 12% VAT.

As the US-Israel imperialist war against Iran and in West Asia continues with no end in sight, the people will be pushed further from accessing basic health service.

As long as the Marcos administration does not offer a comprehensive solution to lower the price of oil and basic commodities, does not raise the wages of the workers to a livable wage and does not solve the landlessness of peasants, the people will continue to suffer and bury into poverty.

That is why we have to continue organizing our community, building and strengthening health workers unions and struggle for peoples health and social change!

Remove 12% VAT and Excise Tax on Oil!
Junk Oil Deregulation Law!
End the US-Israel Imperialist War of Aggression in Iran and West Asia!
Fight for Free, Comprehensive, National Public Health Care System!

Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Ted Herbosa warned that rising tensions in the Middle East could drive up the cost of medicines and hospitalization in the country. | via ANC 24/7

Link to full story in the comments section.

30/03/2026

PRESS RELEASE
Doctors and Health Workers Call For Immediate Release of Detained Health Workers

References:
Edelina Dela Paz, M.D. and Eleanor Jara, M.D.
Convenors
Free Doc Ana, Free Marc! Campaign

The Free Doc Ana, Free Marc! Campaign, composed of friends, colleagues, health rights organizations, and individuals, calls for the immediate and unconditional release of Dr. Ana Marie Rilloraza and health worker Marc Arianne Mendiola, who are currently detained on trumped-up charges in Ilocos Sur and Tarlac, respectively.

On March 11, 2026, both were arrested in Tarlac City, Philippines, under deeply troubling circumstances by joint operations of the Philippine National Police and the Philippine Army’s 5th Infantry Division. Their detention, marked by allegations of fabricated charges, warrantless procedures, and the criminalization of humanitarian and community service, demands urgent attention and action.

As friends and colleagues in community-based health programs, community medicine and environmental health, and the broader social movement for health and human rights, we stand firmly with what Doc Ana and health worker Marc have stood for over many years: the right of underserved communities to access health care, dignity, and justice.

Their arrest sends a chilling effect across the health sector, casting fear among medical professionals and health workers who choose to serve in marginalized areas. It signals a dangerous precedent where humanitarian service is punished rather than protected.

We therefore raise our collective voice to demand:
- Condemn the criminalization of health work and community service.
- Uphold due process, ensure their safety, and drop all trumped-up charges.
- Stand with those who dedicate their lives to serving the poor, defending human rights, and advancing social justice.
- Hands off health workers!

The detention of Doc Ana and Marc is not only an attack on them as individuals but an attack on the principles of compassion, service, and justice. We call on all sectors—health professionals, civil society, and the international community—to join us in demanding their freedom and defending the right to serve the people without fear or persecution.

Free Doc Ana! Free Marc!

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30/03/2026

Representatives from health organizations, doctors, nurses, and health workers will hold a press conference regarding the arrest of Dr. Ana Marie Rilloraza, Marc Mendiola and their Cordillera companions and launching of Free Doc Ana! Free Marc! Campaign.

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21/03/2026

Binabati ng CHD ang Samahan ng Manggagawa ng Kristyanong Pamayanan (SMKP) sa pagdiriwang ng kanilang ika-15 anibersaryo!

Ipagpatuloy ang sama-samang pagkilos ng komunidad at pakikibaka para sa kalusugan ng mamamayan at pagbabago ng lipunan!

16/03/2026

Statement of Solidarity for Dr. Ana Marie Rilloraza

Dr. Ana Marie Rilloraza, a graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine (Class of 1993) and founding member of UP Pangkalusugang Samahan ng mga Mag-aaral (PAGSAMA), has lived out the highest ideals of the medical profession. From the beginning of her career, she chose to walk a path less travelled—one that placed the health and dignity of marginalized communities at the center of her practice. Her life’s work is a testament to the physician’s moral duty to confront the root causes of ill-health beyond the confines of the clinic and hospital.

After graduation, Dr. Rilloraza joined Community Health Education, Services, and Training in the Cordillera Region (CHESTCORE), where she tirelessly served indigenous and rural communities. She led medical missions in underserved and disaster-stricken areas and communities facing human rights violations. More than providing direct medical care, she helped train hundreds of farmers and community members to become community health workers, empowering them to sustain health initiatives long after the missions ended. This commitment reflects her belief that health is not a privilege but a fundamental human right.

Her advocacy extended to environmental health. As spokesperson of the Save the Abra River Movement, Dr. Rilloraza documented the devastating impacts of large-scale mining on communities and ecosystems. She courageously campaigned against destructive operations that threatened the Abra River, bringing local struggles to the global stage. She presented this campaign at the People’s Health Movement meeting in Mumbai (2004) and at the 2nd People’s Health Assembly in Cuenca, Ecuador (2005), amplifying the voices of communities whose health and survival were imperiled by corporate greed and environmental degradation.

Dr. Rilloraza understood that disease is often a manifestation of social injustice, and that without addressing the social determinants of health—poverty, inequality, exploitation—our impact as health workers will always be diluted. She exemplified the principle that physicians are not only healers but advocates, witnesses, and agents of change. These characters embody Rudolf Virchow’s timeless assertion that, “The physician is the natural attorney of the poor.”

Yet today, Dr. Rilloraza faces trumped-up charges, accused of being a member of the so-called "Ilocos-Cordillera Regional Committee" and other trumped-up charges by the 5th Infantry Division of the Philippine Army. These baseless accusations are an attack not only on her but on the broader movement for health, justice, and human rights. To criminalize her service is to criminalize compassion itself. It is an attempt to silence those who dare to expose the cracks in our society and demand accountability for the injustices that make people sick.

Over the past century, remarkable progress has been made in extending life expectancy and improving overall health outcomes. Yet these advances have not been shared equally. Alongside these gains, deep societal and health disparities have persisted and, in many cases, grown worse. The divide between those with access to resources and those without continues to widen, shaped by entrenched social determinants of health and by healthcare systems that often reinforce inequity rather than dismantle it. Physicians, as first-hand witnesses to this widening gap, are duty-bound to act. To stand by silently is to be complicit.

Dr. Rilloraza refused complicity. She persevered, choosing to treat the root causes of ill-health where the poor and marginalized are.

Physicians are witnesses to the indignities suffered by the poor when illness strikes—stripped of dignity, left destitute, and downtrodden by a system that prioritizes profit over people. Dr. Rilloraza’s life reminds us that it is high time to put a spotlight on the root causes of social injustice that make people sick. Inequalities do real harm, and silence in the face of injustice is unacceptable.

Our Calls:
- Free Dr. Ana Marie Rilloraza!
- Drop the trumped-up charges!
- Respect and uphold her fundamental human rights!

The Council for Health and Development, the national organization of community-based health programs in the Philippines, stands firmly with Dr. Rilloraza. Her struggle is our struggle, and her freedom is a matter of justice for all who fight for health, dignity, and human rights.

Signed:

Dr. Eleanor Jara
Chairperson
Council for Health and Development

Dr. Magdalena Barcelon
Former Chairperson
Council for Health and Development

Community Health Education, Services, and Training in the Cordillera Region (CHESTCORE)

24/12/2025

This 2025 showed that our strong resolve, our collective action and reliance to the mass movement, we achieved great opportunities in advancing our struggle for people's health and social change in the face of adversity and challenges.

Let us continue our struggle in the people’s movement for health as part of the broader fight for genuine social change in this coming year and beyond!

Makabuluhang Pasko at Mapagpalayang Bagong Taon!