Valenzuela City has become the first local government unit to adopt the Healthy Workplaces: #WorkTBFree initiative of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Department of Health (DOH).

With the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the #WorkTBFree initiative includes online tools to help human resources and occupational safety officers design, implement and monitor programs for TB in the workplace.

Valenzuela City Mayor Wes Gatchalian pledged his support to make factories and business establishments as certified TB-free workplaces. City health officer, Dr. Marthony Basco underscored the commitment of the local health system to work with companies in preventing the spread of tuberculosis in workplaces.“TB services are free, including chest X-ray screening and medicines for treatment,” he said.

Meanwhile, USAID Director of Health, Michelle Lang-Alli said, “We hope that these learning tools will help the business sector in Valenzuela City find and treat workers with TB, toward our goal of maintaining health workplaces.”

DOH Director for Healthy Workplaces and Environment Division Dr. Rosalind Vianzon also emphasized the need to promote healthy practices to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. “At DOH, we look at a Healthy Workplace framework as a continual improvement process that promotes the adoption of healthy practices like injury and violence prevention, mental health, and environmental health,” she said.

Since 2014, the local council of Valenzuela City has passed numerous ordinances to enjoin different stakeholders as partners in the control of TB in the city.