02/06/2026
DOH Bicol CHD, WHO, PGA merge efforts to combat hypertension during Proteksyon Para sa Altapresyon launch
In line with the National Hypertension Awareness Month, the Department of Health Bicol Center for Health Development (DOH Bicol CHD) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) Philippines and the Provincial Government of Albay (PGA) launched the Proteksyon Para sa Altapresyon (PPSA) on May 28, 2026 in Tabaco City, Albay.
The PPSA – Philippine Hypertension Prevention and Control Initiative aims to establish a unified whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to reduce the burden of hypertension and improve blood pressure control. This supports the national goal that by 2028, morbidity and mortality rates from cardiovascular diseases are reduced through preventive screening, early detection, and management. More specifically, this details the 80-80-80 goal where 80% of the target population should be screened, 80% should be diagnosed accurately, and 80% should be placed under treatment.
According to DOH FHSIS data in 2025, 1 in 5 Bicolanos is living with hypertension. 56% of the target population is unaware that they are at risk; 80% have not yet undergone sustained treatment; and only 1.67% have successfully controlled blood pressure.
DOH Bicol CHD OIC Assistant Regional Director Dr. Rey J. Millena underscored the significance of strengthened partnerships and community engagement to sustain health outcomes through hypertension prevention and control.
With Albay as the pilot implementation site, Albay Governor Hon. Noel E. Rosal extended his sincere commitment to the PPSA unification in all 18 LGUs of the province through the approved Albay Provincial Health Board Resolution No. 003 Series of 2026 initiative across the province’s 18 LGUs, including special provisions for the management of gestational hypertension.
“The Provincial Health Board recognizes the urgent need to unify Albay’s 18 LGUs under this national framework to mitigate risks and save lives,” Hon. Rosal said.
Tabaco City Mayor Hon. Reynaldo B. Bragais, through Executive Assistant Mr. Kirby Bragais, also expressed his profound commitment to the hypertension control program.
“As your mayor, I fully support programs that prioritize public health and wellness. Together with our City Health Office, barangay health workers, and partner agencies, we will continue bringing awareness and services closer to families, especially those who are most vulnerable,” Hon. Bragais said.
World Health Organization Philippines Health Systems Strengthening Team Lead Dr. Yu Lee Park emphasized the importance of a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach to sustain the program implementation.
“This initiative is not a campaign; It should really be integrated into the existing system by how we can institutionalize the hypertension control program through first patient encounter. All levels of health care from the barangay health workers to the local chief executives should be owning this initiative,” Dr. Park said.
Dr. Raymond Martin Corpus, DOH Bicol Noncommunicable Disease Prevention and Control Cluster Head, underscored the importance of scaling up local governance and ownership, leveraging PhilHealth YAKAP, and digital tools and data systems to amplify the operations of the PPSA initiative.
Dr. Corpus shared the DOH Bicol CHD Quick Wins in the first 100 days of implementing the PPSA, where the center was able to allocate nearly PHP 49M for the augmentation of medicines to the provinces. In addition, PHP 12M was allocated for PhilPEN screening and equipment.
Meanwhile, Mr. Norman Hamora, Human Resource for Health of Barangay Buang, Tabaco shared their best practices, where 134 individuals enrolled in the YAKAP program and were provided medications, sustained patient monitoring and secured financial assistance from partner stakeholders. Further, Mr. Hamora said that the city provided 1.5M for provision of medicines to augment support to all 47 brgys of Tabaco.
Ms. Hazel Lynn Bartolome, representative of PHO Albay, reiterated its support to strengthen and sustain efforts for community care, detection, and monitoring, as well as the utilization of uncompromised funding for medicines and other needs for hypertension management.
Dr. Bernard S. Vega, Vice President of the Philippine College of Physicians – Bicol Chapter reaffirmed their commitment to support public awareness and screening of hypertension and continue medical education and capacity building activities for health care professionals.
Dr. Emmalyn Fernando of the Philippine Society for Hypertension – Bicol Chapter also expressed their support to the initiative by conducting the May Measure Month campaign in their respective clinics.
Mr. Ramil Marianito, Regional Head of the Philippine Information Agency Bicol expressed their commitment to the advocacy of the PPSA, noting that health promotion and ingraining healthy lifestyle behaviors is one of the crucial steps to controlled blood pressure. (DOH5/MDUB)
