The City Leadership Team (CLT) of Isabela, led by Vice-Chairperson and City Population Management and Development Officer Jesielyn Puno, paid a courtesy visit to Mayor Sitti Djalia Turabin-Hataman on July 22 to discuss the city’s ongoing partnership with the Zuellig Family Foundation under The Challenge Initiative (TCI). The meeting highlighted the significant strides made in family planning and adolescent health over the past 20 months of engagement.
Graduation from the program signifies that a city has reached “Global Self-Reliant” status — demonstrating sustainable improvements in adolescent health and family planning without direct external assistance. As of June 2025, several cities have graduated from the program, showing measurable reductions in adolescent birth rates and increased contraceptive use.
Isabela City is expected to graduate this year, having achieved an initial Graduation Scale Score of 93.8%.
To ensure the sustainability of these gains, the CLT recommended the continued implementation of Mobile Outreach Services and the promotion of community participation through policy adoption for an adolescent-friendly health system.
Also present during the visit were Tony Tumalon, City Technical Lead; Imelda Cañete; Health Education and Promotion Officer Bernardita Hontucan, CHO Adolescent Health Program Coordinator; Michelle Lledo, RHU10-North Nurse Supervisor and CHO Family Planning Coordinator; and Maridol Dela Cruz, CHO FHSIS Coordinator. (Words by J. Atilano, Photos by K. Sencio/IsaTV)
