In 2021, we joined the Department of Health on a project that reshaped the country’s approach to disaster risk reduction and emergency response in health. Our role focused on redesigning three online courses under the Public Health and Emergency Management in Asia and the Pacific program. These included the National PHEMAP, the Sub-national PHEMAP, and a new Executive PHEMAP course.

Why the Redesign Was Urgent

The Philippines continues to face threats from natural disasters and public health emergencies. From Typhoon Yolanda to the COVID-19 pandemic, the cracks in the system became visible. While earlier PHEMAP trainings laid a strong foundation, it was clear that health systems needed updated, practical tools that matched the scale and complexity of today’s risks.

Starting with Listening

To make the courses relevant, we began with a thorough learning needs assessment. We engaged both executive leaders and front-line public health managers. The feedback revealed a strong demand for training that bridged policy and practice. Topics like logistics, policy-making, health emergency coordination, and institutionalization of emergency systems came up repeatedly.

Tailoring the Content for Impact

We worked closely with the Department of Health and the Health Emergency Management Bureau to revise the content. For the National and Sub-national PHEMAP courses, we refreshed the modules on disaster preparedness, leadership, response, and recovery. For the new Executive course, we built a strategic program designed for decision-makers. This focused on policy development, risk analysis, and system-wide planning during emergencies.

Training That Works in a Virtual World

All three courses were adapted for online learning and launched through the DOH Academy platform. The Executive course was tested through two batches of virtual training. It combined live sessions, self-paced learning modules, and a final tabletop exercise. We gathered feedback after each session and used these insights to revise and finalize the modules during a collaborative writeshop with government experts.

Moving from Learning to System Change

This effort did more than deliver training. It helped create learning platforms that support real-world emergency preparedness. The updated PHEMAP courses are now aligned with Universal Health Care and can help local governments and health offices build stronger, more coordinated emergency responses.

If you want a copy of the full report or would like to learn more about our approach to course development in public health emergencies, feel free to reach out. We are happy to share what we’ve learned.