The Philippines is set to activate church resources to improve lifestyle of its citizens, according to Jonathan C. Catolico, Seventh-day Adventist Church spokesmain in the region.

A three-day, government-sponsored seminar has led to the accreditation of 28 Seventh-day Adventist pastors and church workers as trainers for healthy lifestyle programs in the Philippines. The government’s Department of Health sponsored and led the seminar.

Dr. Judith Tawatao, technical program coordinator for this central region, led the team of presenters during this three-day accreditation and training seminar.  She said, “the [Seventh-day] Adventist Church is the only active religious group that promotes healthy lifestyle that the Department of Health is privileged to partner with.”

Bernie C. Maniego, health director for the church in the Negros Oriental-Siquijor region in the Central Philippines, said, “We are happy to receive this accreditation because we are granted [permission] by the government to conduct education training and seminar on smoking cessation, drug and alcohol prevention, nutrition, and strengthening family life.”

Charles Nogra, health director for the Central Region of the Adventist Church in the Philippines and one of the presenters at the seminar thanked the Philippine Government through its Department of Health regional headquarters in Central Philippines for the opportunity granted to Adventists to become “certified health deputies” for health education and promotion.