CCDC, ZFF continues partnership in leadership, public health initiatives

The Cordillera College Development College (CCDC) and the Zuellig Family Foundation (ZFF) reaffirmed their shared commitment to improving health leadership and governance in Northern Luzon through a partnership signing on October 3, 2025, at the Admirals Farm Park in La Trinidad, Benguet.

CCDC President Sherry Junette-Tagle and ZFF President and Executive Director Austere Panadero led the signing of the memorandum of understanding that marks another three-year partnership for both institutions.

“Through this partnership, ZFF and CCDC aim to continue nurturing a new generation of leaders who can drive evidence-based and community-centered health programs,” Tagle said.

The MOU states that both institutions shall facilitate the implementation of training programs, research initiatives, and other capacity-building activities that support the strengthening of public health systems and leadership practices.

With the collaboration, both institutions shall conduct the joint development and delivery of learning development activities targeted at local government units and other related stakeholders.

This includes the design of training programs, facilitation of learning interventions, mentoring engagements, and technical assistance aligned with ZFF’s focus on nutrition, adolescent, and youth sexual and reproductive health and the local health systems.

The partnership would also focus on research and knowledge dissemination including publication or presentation of findings that contribute to evidence-informed policies, programs and innovations, and sustained engagements among practitioners and institutions.

Since 2023, ZFF and CCDC, in collaboration with the Department of Health—Center for Health development, have worked together to strengthen local health leadership in Northern Luzon, particularly in the Cordillera Administrative Region.

One of the programs jointly facilitated by the ZFF, CCDC and DOH in the region is the “Bayang Malusog Leadership and Governance Program” in relation to the implementation of the Universal Health Care Act.

CCDC has provided leadership and technical inputs and coaching and mentoring while facilitating trainings for the various LGUs enrolled in the program.

To date, there are 11 towns from the region that graduated from the modular course called Municipal Leadership Development Program (MLDP) from the towns of Atok, Bokod, Mankayan, and Buguias in Benguet; Hingyon, Aguinaldo, and Asipulo in Ifugao; Bontoc and Sagada in Mountain Province; Lagayan, Abra; and Balbalan, Kalinga.  

The MLDP aims to equip the various local chief executives and its respective health teams composed of the municipal health officers, Sangguniang Bayan member for health, and the municipal accountant or an equivalent local finance committee representative to improve on their health care systems particularly on the implementation of the UHC.

Another program on the pipeline for CCDC is the establishment of the Bridging Leadership Center, that would provide resources for faculty and students while fostering collaboration with other ZFF academic partners.

“What we always say at CCDC is bringing education closer to the people. This partnership has allowed us to widen our reach, engaging adult learners and promoting continuing education,” Tagle said in an interview with the ZFF.

With its various partners in the country, the Zuellig Family Foundation aims to build its academic partners to become self-reliant and self-sustaining institution for health leadership and governance programs with integrated knowledge management system.

 

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