THE Department of Health (DOH) – Ilocos Region through the Regional Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Unit in partnership with the Treatment and Rehabilitation Center – La Union conducted the Philippine Package of Essential Non-Communicable (PhilPEN) health risk assessment to employees of Pag-Ibig Fund in San Fernando City, La Union to promote health awareness and provide medical care, especially those who are monitoring their diet and those with hypertension and even diabetes.
The activity is in line with the celebration of Heart Month and to encourage public support for the advocacy of promoting cardiovascular health and wellness.
Regional Director Paula Paz M. Sydiongco said that among the health concerns of government employees are hypertension and diabetes.
“We need to start implementing interventions among our government workforce in order for them to be protected against cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as hypertension and stroke.
“We want to continually protect and promote employee’s health, safety, and wellbeing and for workplace sustainability. CVDs are preventable and dapat lang nating gawin ay umiwas sa mga unhealthy lifestyle such as excessive salty food intake, lack of exercise and even stressful environment,” she stressed.
The activity also provided awareness and education on the management, prevention and control of NCDs.
DOH listed cardiovascular diseases (CVD), cancers chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes (DM) among the leading causes of mortality in the country. These are known as Lifestyle Related Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), particularly because they have common risk factors which are to large extent related to unhealthy lifestyle.
The Philippine Package of Essential Non-Communicable Diseases Interventions (PhilPEN) was adopted and implemented in 2012 in low resource setting from the World Health Organization and was included in Philhealth’s Primary Care Benefit Package in 2013.
All Pag-Ibig Fund employees were screened during the activity conducted at the San Fernando City Field Office 1 on February 11, 2025.
