Village Connect
In a historic move for the 2025 elections, two champions of health reform—Dr. Willie Ong and Dr. Jondi Flavier—have joined forces to ensure quality healthcare reaches the most underserved Filipino families. Inspired by the late Senator Dr. Juan Flavier’s legacy of “Bringing a Doctor to the Senate,” Dr. Ong is running for a Senate seat, while Dr. Flavier leads the HEALTH ALLIANCE PH (HEAL PH) Party-List 152.
With the campaign slogan “Let’s DOH it again,” they pledge to advance the Universal Health Care Act of 2019 and Primary Health Care principles from the 1978 Alma Ata Declaration. Joined by former DOH Undersecretary Eric Tayag and former DENR Undersecretary Major General Bennie de Leon, the HEAL PH team aims to deliver meaningful reforms through their flagship G.O.A.L. program:
- Gamot (Free Medicine)
- Operasyon (Free Medical Operations)
- Abiso (Correct Health Advice)
- Lab Tests (Free Laboratory Tests)
These initiatives prioritize urban poor and remote barangays, addressing health inequities while empowering communities with lifesaving care. The team also envisions Health Cards with unlimited medical coverage, providing vulnerable Filipinos with access to essential services while preventing healthcare fraud.
Dr. Willie and HEAL PH emphasize modernizing and optimizing existing health facilities over costly new investments. Their plans include recruiting and deploying more health workers to underserved areas, continuing the grassroots programs pioneered by Dr. Juan Flavier in 1993. They also advocate strict, non-bailable penalties for the misuse of public health funds.
The campaign officially launched on December 12, 2024, at The Peninsula Manila with a manifesto of solidarity, reflecting their commitment to building a healthier, more equitable Philippines.
