DOH strengthens efforts to safeguard public health, safety through collaborative emergency response
To establish a robust framework for effective communication and community involvement in addressing health emergencies, the Department of Health (DOH) has partnered with the United States Agency for International Development and the Breakthrough Action Project.

DOH, headed by Assistant Secretary Dr. Beverly Lorraine Ho, led the first day of the three-day Interagency Consultative Writeshop on Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Framework and Standard Operating Procedures on Monday, Nov. 13, at Malate, Manila.
The health department said that at the heart of this initiative lies the ambition to create a unified framework, laying down standardized procedures and detailed plans to fortify the nation's RCCE capabilities.
The DOH emphasized that one of the primary outcomes of this collaborative effort is the development of a joint administrative order.
This order, DOH said, aims to institutionalize and cement the strides made in bolstering the country's capacity for risk communication.
Moreover, it intends to bridge existing gaps in coordination among different sectors, preparing them for future health risks and hazards.
DOH stressed that this groundbreaking approach underscored a proactive strategy to align diverse stakeholders, enabling a more cohesive, comprehensive, and swift response to any potential health crises that may arise in the future.

It also highlighted that the gathering, which saw the active participation of key government bodies, including the Departments of Agriculture (DA) and Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), and the Office of the Civil Defense, marked a significant step in unifying efforts across various sectors related to health, animal, and environmental emergencies.
The DOH also expressed commitment to fostering a united front in safeguarding public health and safety, setting a precedent for collaborative emergency response frameworks on a national scale.