Chalssea Kate Echegoyen

The Philippine Heart Association celebrates World Heart Day with a variety of activities and free diagnostic tests for heart health in Pasig City on September 29, 2024. The PHA promotes their new advocacy campaign called "Pusong Pinoy", highlighting exercise, obesity and nutrition control, and healthy food choices, as part of around two hundred and fifty international heart associatioParticipants actively joined a variety of activities during the celebration of World Heart Day, led by the Philippine Heart Association, at a mall in Pasig City on September 29, 2024. 

A series of activities and free diagnostic tests were conducted as part of PHA’s new advocacy campaign, "Pusong Pinoy," which highlighted the importance of exercise, nutrition control, and healthy food choices to combat obesity and promote overall health.
The event was part of the global observance of World Heart Day, with around 250 international heart associations participating.

Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News
ns observing World Heart Day. Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

World Heart Day

Raphael Bosano

ABS-CBN News

LYON, France — As the world marks World Health Day, global health experts and government leaders gathered to push for a major shift in how countries approach public health — one that could be crucial for nations like the Philippines in preventing future pandemics.At the center of discussions is the “One Health” approach, a strategy that recognizes the close link between human health, animal health, and the environment.The urgency of adopting this framework became clearer after the COVID-19 pandemic, which infected more than 4 million Filipinos and claimed over 66,000 lives nationwide, exposing gaps in the country’s health system.Globally, experts estimate that around 75 percent of emerging infectious diseases in humans are zoonotic, meaning they originate from animals. This highlights the need to monitor not only human health, but also wildlife, livestock, and ecosystems.<div> </div><div>Climate, disasters, and disease in the Philippines</div>For the Philippines, this interconnected risk is a recurring reality. The country faces an average of 20 tropical cyclones each year, many of which trigger severe flooding that increases the spread of infectious diseases.<div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2025/8/7/-it-s-an-annual-thing-hospitals-feel-surge-in-leptospirosis-cases-anew-2350">&#x27;It’s an annual thing&#x27;: Hospitals feel surge in leptospirosis cases anew</a></div>Following major floods, cases of leptospirosis — a bacterial disease transmitted through water contaminated by rat urine — often surge. In 2025, hospitals again saw a spike in infections after successive storms.Dengue also remains a persistent threat, with the Department of Health recording more than 200,000 cases in some outbreak years, particularly during the rainy season when mosquito breeding accelerates.When disease outbreaks coincide with disasters, the strain on the healthcare system intensifies, sometimes pushing hospitals beyond capacity.Experts at the summit stressed that these overlapping risks cannot be addressed in isolation.“Share data, share evidence that are science-based. The main goal is perhaps everyone—politics, scientific people—share the same information,” said Didier Lepelletier, Director General at the French Ministry of Health.“We need political decisions, to put money in One Health policy, instead of only investing in hospitals when people are already sick,” he added.<div> </div><div>PH making strides, but gaps remain</div>In the Philippines, efforts aligned with the One Health approach have been in place even before the term became widely used, according to Department of Health spokesperson Albert Domingo.He cited the Philippine Interagency Committee on Zoonoses as an example, but noted that its effectiveness depends heavily on sustained leadership and institutional support.“Pwede natin siyang gawing higher than a committee, pwedeng talaga siyang by executive order, meaning Pangulo yung magtatatag. Or if we are ready already, baka kailangan talaga magkaroon ng Republic Act. Kasi ang Republic Act, sa usaping polisiya, tumatagal yan kahit nagpapalit ng presidente, kahit mga dekada na kalipas, ay nai-institutionalize yan sa kilos ng gobyerno,” he said.One step forward is the creation of the Virology and Vaccine Institute of the Philippines (VIP), signed into law in 2025. The institute aims to lead research and vaccine development for diseases affecting humans, animals, and plants.The country has also strengthened disease surveillance systems since the COVID-19 pandemic, but gaps remain in data sharing, laboratory capacity, and funding.Domingo emphasized that while global and national coordination are crucial, success ultimately depends on local implementation.“Ang aksyon para sa One Health ay hindi nasa DOH, nasa DA, nasa DENR. Ang aksyon ay nasa barangay, munisipyo, syudad, o kaya lalawigan.”<div> Southeast Asia in focus</div>Officials also highlighted Southeast Asia’s vulnerability to environmental and health threats, placing the region, including the Philippines, at the center of global health discussions.The Philippines is considered a hotspot for emerging infectious diseases due to its rich biodiversity, dense population, and frequent human-animal interaction.French Minister Delegate Éléonore Caroit underscored the need for sustained global investment in health systems, particularly in Asia.“There is a huge challenge in Asia, Southeast Asia in particular,” she said.“Investment in development is made in health, in vaccines, medicine production, and building capacities throughout the world. Ultimately, when you invest in health, it has a direct impact on your own population.”Experts added that the challenge for governments is to turn scientific evidence into concrete policies that can prevent not only routine outbreaks but also the next global health crisis.For countries like the Philippines, where climate vulnerability, recurring disease outbreaks, and health system gaps are often treated as routine, adopting a One Health approach is no longer optional.With stronger data sharing, sustained investment, and cross-sector coordination, experts say countries stand a better chance of stopping the next outbreak before it escalates into another pandemic.

As the world marks World Health Day, global health experts and government leaders gathered to push for a major shift in how countries approach public health — one that could be crucial for nations like the Philippines in preventing future pandemics.

As the world marks World Health Day, global health experts and government leaders gathered to push for a major shift in how countries approach public health — one that could be crucial for nations like the Philippines in preventing future pandemics.

'One Health' approach pushed at Europe summit; why it matters for the Philippines

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'One Health' approach pushed at Europe summit; why it matters for the Philippines

Raphael Bosano,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 07, 2026 08:34 PM PHT

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One Health Summit

World Health Organization

Department of Health

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