Rizal Province, Philippines (August 4, 2026) — CARE Philippines officially launched the B-STRONG program in the Province of Rizal on July 23. B-STRONG is a partnership between CARE and the AbbVie Foundation that trains and equips Barangay Health Workers in Rizal Province to connect communities to critical healthcare services and improve health outcomes, by delivering care through existing government health systems.
In strong partnership with the Department of Health – Center for Health Development Region IV-A (DOH-CHD IV-A), PhilHealth NCR/Rizal, the Rizal Provincial Government, and all its 14 local government units, the program equips more than 3,000 Barangay Health Workers to connect at-risk households to PhilPEN screening, PhilHealth-YAKAP enrollment, and continuous care for non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Representatives from CARE Philippines, DOH Center for Health Development CaLaBaRZon, PhilHealth NCR, the Provincial Government of Rizal, and 14 LGUs from the province gather for the launch of the B-STRONG Project.
“In Rizal alone, thousands of people are living with high blood pressure and diabetes, and most have never been screened,” said Reiza Dejito, CARE Philippines’ Country Director. Despite this reality, she expressed optimism: “Here’s what’s giving me hope – the care already exists. YAKAP already covers the medicines. The health centers in the LGUs already do the screening. The piece that we can strengthen together is the connection between them. And this is the whole point of B-STRONG, the connection, the bridge, so when a Barangay Health Worker finds a family in need, they help connect them to the care that is already there.”
Photo: DOH Center for Health Development IV-A and CARE Philippines sign a Memorandum of Understanding. Representing the organizations are (L-R): Glenn Bede Benablo, B-STRONG Project Manager; Dr. Marie Beatrix Duzon, NCD Cluster Head, DOH CHD IV-A; Reiza Dejito, CARE Philippines Country Director; and Jerome Lanit, CARE Philippines Development Portfolio Coordinator.
CARE Philippines also formalized their partnership with DOH-CHD IV-A, PhilHealth Regional Office NCR, and the Provincial Government of Rizal through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signing. Vice President of PhilHealth NCR, Dr. Bernadette Lico remarked:
“Through the B-STRONG program and its synergy with PhilHealth YAKAP, we are strengthening a more coordinated and sustainable approach – one that emphasizes prevention, health promotion and accessible care at the community level.” She added, “as we launch this program today, we reaffirm our collective commitment to stronger health systems and more empowered communities, where every Filipino has the opportunity to live a healthier and more productive life.”
“This is our north star: to reduce premature mortality due to cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus by 20% by 2028. B-STRONG will reach 10,000 high-risk patients – ensuring that NCDs are diagnosed early, referred timely, and controlled effectively,” CARE Philippines B-STRONG Project Manager Glenn Bede Benablo emphasized.
The event was attended by over 100 health workers, government partners, and development partners at the municipal, provincial, and regional levels.
By embedding the model directly into local health infrastructure, B-STRONG helps ensure access to critical services remains sustainable after the program concludes. The program is designed to last beyond the project period and potentially expand to other locations.
“The AbbVie Foundation is committed to driving transformative change in communities, and we are proud to partner with CARE to advance this innovative program that is designed to strengthen local health systems and connect people to the care they need,” said Keya Milla, President, AbbVie Foundation; Vice President, Corporate Responsibility & Global Philanthropy, AbbVie. “We look forward to seeing B-STRONG’s impact on health outcomes in the Philippines ─ and its potential to serve as a blueprint for communities around the world.”
About CARE
Founded in 1945 with the creation of the CARE Package®, CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE places special focus on working alongside women and girls. Equipped with the proper resources, women and girls have the power to lift whole families and entire communities out of poverty. In 2024, CARE worked in 121 countries, reaching 53 million people through 1,450 projects. In the Philippines, CARE has been supporting the most vulnerable communities during times of crisis while also fostering community resilience and development since 1949. To learn more, visit www.care.org and www.care-philippines.org.
About the AbbVie Foundation The AbbVie Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to driving transformative change in communities worldwide and advancing health equity so that every individual can realize their full potential.
