THE SILENT killers of our time — hypertension and cardiovascular diseases — have long plagued communities, claiming thousands of lives and burdening families with enormous healthcare costs. But as reported by this paper last week, in Iloilo Province a pioneering initiative is proving that local governments have the power to fight back effectively. The public health program “Puso Para sa Puso: Movement for Healthy Hearts” shows how active governance, community engagement, and strategic partnerships can yield life-saving results. Other local government units (LGUs) would do well to study and replicate this blueprint in tackling non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Iloilo’s approach emphasizes prevention. Recognizing that treating hypertension and cardiovascular diseases after they have already caused complications is both costly and unsustainable, the provincial government has anchored its strategy on early detection, community-based monitoring, and lifestyle interventions. The results speak for themselves: a significant increase in screenings, a remarkable 84% blood pressure control rate among enrollees, and a 30% reduction in cardiovascular disease-related deaths in just three years. These achievements translate to lives saved, healthcare costs reduced, and a more productive population.
What makes Iloilo’s program a model worth emulating is its holistic implementation. It integrates government and non-government efforts, mobilizing barangay health workers and force multipliers to conduct screenings, house-to-house monitoring, and treatment follow-ups. The use of digital health tracking through the Healthy Heart Program e-Registry ensures efficient patient monitoring and data-driven decision-making.
This public health program is a provincial success story that can be a regional and national benchmark. In fact, other provinces, including Aklan, Antique, and Capiz, are adopting Iloilo’s approach, while even far-flung areas like the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao have expressed interest in replicating the model. The Department of Health itself has taken notice, recognizing the program’s potential for broader implementation.
Iloilo’s program offers many insights. Investing in prevention is more cost-effective than dealing with the consequences of untreated diseases. Local health initiatives thrive when they are institutionalized, as evidenced by Iloilo’s Executive Order No. 183, which ensures the sustainability of the Healthy Hearts Program. Effective health governance is a collaborative effort — government alone cannot solve public health crises, but with the support of private organizations, international health bodies, and engaged communities, meaningful change is possible.
With the rise of NCDs across the country, there is no excuse for inaction. Iloilo has shown that solutions exist, Prevention and innovation must be the new standard in public health governance.
