𝗖𝗙𝗢 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗢𝗛 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗣𝗔𝗙𝗜𝗢𝗢 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗮𝗴 𝗔𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗲 𝗗𝗿. 𝗘𝗹𝘃𝘆 𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗼 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗧𝗕 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀

Building on the success of the TB Training for Providers on May 9, 2025, the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), through its Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas (PAFIOO) Secretariat, reaffirmed its support for 2024 PAFIOO Banaag Awardee Dr. Elvy Barroso’s continuing efforts in tuberculosis (TB) education and control in the Philippines. On May 29, 2025, the CFO participated in a virtual meeting with Dr. Barroso, representatives from the Department of Health (DOH), and the Fight Against Tuberculosis Among Filipinos Foundation, Inc. (FATFF) to explore opportunities for collaboration in TB prevention and public health education.

One of the highlights of the meeting was the discussion of potential partnerships among the CFO, DOH, and the FATBF. Dr. Barroso underscored the need for additional vials of tuberculin antigen to support ongoing TB testing efforts. In response, the CFO facilitated coordination between Dr. Barroso and the DOH’s National TB Program (NTP). The NTP expressed its support and committed to connecting Dr. Barroso with the DOH – Center for Health Development (CHD) in Bicol Region to help address logistical challenges and supply needs at the local level.

During the meeting, Dr. Barroso likewise proposed to conduct a one-day TB Conference in Manila, targeted for July 2026 in partnership with the CFO, DOH, and international public health partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and Zero TB. In response, the DOH welcomed the proposal and suggested the possibility of integrating the FATFF-led conference with the DOH’s 31st Annual Lung Convention scheduled for August 14–15, 2025 in Quezon City, in partnership with the Philippine Coalition Against Tuberculosis (PhilCAT) to raise awareness about lung diseases, particularly TB and pneumonia. While Dr. Barroso expressed regret to attend due to the beginning of the academic calendar in the United States, they conveyed their interest in participating in the next annual TB event. The DOH likewise expressed its intention to formally invite the CFO to participate in this year’s convention.

Further into the discussion, the DOH requested the drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize the partnership and outline Dr. Barroso’s proposed initiatives, providing a framework for future collaboration. The DOH also expressed interest in arranging a face-to-face meeting with the CFO to strengthen inter-agency cooperation and ensure strategic alignment in advancing shared public health goals.