14/04/2026
๐๐ซ๐ข๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ ๐๐ฉ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐ ๐๐๐ซ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐๐ก๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฐ๐ข-๐๐๐ฐ๐ข ๐๐ฎ๐-๐๐ก๐๐ฉ๐ญ๐๐ซ, ๐ญ๐๐ฉ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฌ, ๐ฉ๐๐๐ข๐๐ญ๐ซ๐ข๐๐ข๐๐ง๐ฌ ๐๐ฌ ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ๐ง๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐ฉ๐ซ๐จ๐ฉ๐๐ ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง ๐จ๐ ๐ก๐๐๐ซ๐ญ ๐๐๐ฏ๐จ๐๐๐๐ข๐๐ฌ
๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐-๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐ 10, 2026โIn its 74-year history, the Philippine Heart Association (PHA) extended its reach to Tawi-Tawi, one of the countryโs seven provinces as having zero practicing cardiologists.
The commitment to multiply and strengthen the PHA Chapters and to start working on the โOne Cardiologist for Every Cityโ vision was made by the PHA during its annual convention in May 2025.
After the creation of new chapters, the birth of the PHA Basilan and Tawi-Tawi under the PHA ZamBaSulTa ensued The PHA Sulu Sub-Chapter launching and is slated for April 25, 2026 in Jolo.
PHA President Dr. Walid Amil said the expansion program which is now in Tawi-Tawi, is the culmination of a long-overdue dream to serve communities with no cardiac specialists.
โIn its 74 years of existence, this is the first time that the Philippine Heart Association has reached out to Tawi-Tawi. We are actually creating and establishing a PHA subchapter in this region,โ he said.
โBringing heart care closer to every Filipino is one of our flagship projects. When we looked at the national scope, we realized that despite our many programs, some provinces were still not being covered, especially those without resident cardiologists,โ Amil added.
The launching program included the induction of newly appointed sub-chapter officers, composed mainly of 3 internal medicine physicians and 2 pediatricians who have pledged to now take on a crucial role in bridging the gap in cardiovascular care.
They are Drs. Alhambra Berto Ladjahiran, Roselyn Dacullo Aldam, Javier Lee Sahibuddin, Maorene Tan Tidal, Ridzma Samsuya Aripin, and Aldrin Q. Ibbo.
Leading the induction were PHA National President Dr. Walid Amil, the first Mindanaoan leader of the association, and Dr. Amelyn Ulanghutan, President of the ZamBaSulTa Chapter, together with the PHA Zambasulta Past President Dr. Amilbahar Karim, and the PHA Board of Directors Dr. Luigi Pierre Segundo, treasurer; Dr. Iris Garcia, director III and advocacy chair, and Mr. Romy Cruz, finance officer.
The induction rites was held at the Dahuwan Tampeh Resort in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi.
ZamBaSulTa has only 23 cardiologists but all of them are based in Zamboanga City where major public and private hospitals are located, leaving island provinces like Tawi-Tawi without direct access to specialized heart care.
According to Ulanghutan and Ladjahiran, cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of mortality and morbidity in Tawi-Tawi.
In geographically unique areas such as Tawi-Tawi, the establishment of a local subchapter through the Philippine Heart Association has created stronger connections to national programs. โKahit walang cardiologist, may connection na kami, malapit na yung mundo namin,โ Ladjahiran said, underscoring the importance of collaboration in bridging healthcare gaps.
April 10, 2026 was a momentous event in PHA history, the induction was followed by the launching of the Mass Hands-only Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Training at the MBHTE Gyn in Bongao, Tawi-Tawi that gathered 625 attendees composed predominantly of junior and senior high students, barangay health workers, Philippine National Police and Bureau of Fire Protection men.
As of 2026, the Philippines had 2,546 cardiologists serving a population of approximately 114 million, or roughly one cardiologist for every 44,800 Filipinos. While Metro Manila recorded a higher concentration, with one cardiologist per 10,400 residents, many provinces continued to experience limited access to specialist care.
From L: Drs. Segundo, Garcia, Amil, Tidal, Aldam, Aripin, Ladjahiran, Ulanghutan, Karim, Cruz
20/04/2026
11/04/2026
11/04/2026
10/04/2026
31/03/2026