by Leo G. Almonte, MDC
West Visayas State University attended the South East Asia One Health Network (SEAOHUN) strategic planning workshop at the function room of Microtel Hotel in Pasay City last July 4 and 5, 2022. Represented by Dr. Celina C. Gellada, Vice President for Medical and Allied Sciences, and Dr. Maria Kristina Gonzalez-Almonte, College of Medicine Faculty, the university is expected to take an active role in supporting the advocacy of SEAOHUN.
WVSU is a Philippine One Health Network member, part of the Southeast Asia One Health University Network (SEAOHUN). According to their website, PhilOHUN and the entire SEAOHUN aspires for a future with minimal threat from preventable diseases through the One Health approach. They believe that joining hands with their neighboring Southeast Asian countries will allow us to move a step closer to this goal.
SEAOHUN’s Dr. Vipat Kuruchittham (Executive Director) and Ms. Gabrielle Iglesias (Senior Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Officer) served as speakers while Professor Benjamin Sandoval facilitated the strategic planning workshop. As the funding organization of SEAOHUN, Chevron Corporation was represented by Ms. Dee Bourbon, Mr. Joel Gaviola and Ms. Analyn Caindoy.
The workshop’s objective is to produce a five-year strategic plan to strengthen PhilOHUN’s identity as a One Health-centered organization in the Philippines. In attendance to the two-day workshop were representatives from member universities Central Luzon State University, Partido State University, Pampanga State Agricultural University, University of the Philippines Los Baños, University of the Philippines Manila, Visayas State University, University of Eastern Philippines, Central Mindanao University, West Visayas State University, Chevron and SEAOHUN.
*Photo Source: PHILOHUN Website at https://www.philohun.org/