The Department of Health (DOH) recognized its outgoing 213 Rural Health Physicians (RHPs) under the Doctors to the Barrios (DTTB) Program for their valuable contributions in improving public health initiatives during their three-year deployment in unserved and underserved areas across the country.
The DTTB is one of the core initiatives of the DOH under the National Health Workforce Support System (NHWSS) designed to expand community accessibility to essential healthcare services by deploying RHPs to marginalized and hard-to-reach communities.
To support the transition of the DTTB Batch 40 graduates, an exit conference was facilitated by the DOH through its Health Human Resource Deployment Bureau (HHRDB), in collaboration with the DOH Bicol Center for Health Development – Human Resource Development Unit (HRDU), held January 12-16, 2026 at Villa Caceres Hotel, Naga City, Camarines Sur. This also serves part of their offboarding process as well as guide them in navigating post-deployment career opportunities.
In her message, DOH Assistant Secretary Maylene M. Beltran emphasized how the program helps fulfill the vision of achieving zero doctorless municipalities.
By deploying at least one RHP in every city or municipality, the DTTB Program helps bridge healthcare workforce gaps, strengthen local health systems, and ensures that Universal Healthcare becomes a reality for every community, Asec. Beltran emphasized.
DOH Bicol CHD OIC-Regional Director Dr. Rosa Maria B. Rempillo extended her heartfelt congratulations to the graduating DTTBs, commending their dedication and unwavering commitment to uplifting rural healthcare. “We deeply value the heart and soul you have poured into your service as public health doctors. You are not merely providing medical care—you are offering peace of mind and ensuring that the vision of health for all truly begins at the grassroots level,” she said.
Participants were immersed in plenary discussions, debriefing exercises, and breakout sessions to capture participant feedback and experiences during their deployment. These dialogues served as a critical mechanism to identify systematic barriers as well as refine program policies to make it more responsive to the needs of the community.
Source: DOH Bicol CHD