October 01, 2008, The Department of Health, CHD Western Visayas gleamed with gladness to have a new Director III-Assistant Regional Director, Dr. Ariel Ignacio Valencia, MPH,CSEE, after a year of dedication to his work he was appointed Director IV-OIC-Regional Director.

OIC-RD Valencia finished his Bachelor’s degree in Medical Technology as well as his degree in Medicine at the Far Eastern University. In 1993 he earned his post-graduate course in Occupational Health and Safety at the University of the Philippines-CPH while from 1999 to 2000 he was given the chance to study at the ULB-Brusells, Belgium where he took up his Master’s degree in Public Health.

He served the Province of Taytay for almost 13 years starting as Medical Officer I until he became the Municipal Health Officer. In 2004, he joined the Department of Health CHD IV-A as Medical Specialist II and in 2005 he became the Executive Assistant of Asec. David Lozada, Internal Management Support and Field Health Implementation Coordination Office (FICO) for Visayas.

It makes him proud to be a part of a CHD that is dynamic and focused on empowering the Local Government Units based on the Mission and Vision and believes that it should be a catalyst of Change. He describes the CHD WV staff as warm, friendly, hospitable and “malambing” and has observed that the employees are hardworking, easy to work with and committed to their assigned tasks. He will make sure that the needs of the CHD WV employees will be attuned to the core values of the Department of Health and that each and every employee is steadfast to serve and be motivated for the common good. To all the CHD staff, he wants to share these words of wisdom for us to ponder with:

Up Close and Personal…..

Born June 21, 1964 in the Province of Taytay, Rizal, son of Elisea Cruz Ignacio and Mariano Cruz Valencia. He is married to Dr. Edith C. Valencia, a dentist and was blessed with two (2) sons, Ariel Josiah and John Emmanuel. Dir. Valencia have once dreamed of becoming a lawyer but his desire of being a doctor succeeded and dreams that one of his sons will become a lawyer someday. For him being a doctor is a blessing and working in the government is a commitment of serving and giving back to the community and to him Public Service is the essence of his existence.

Family is equally important to him as his work, so he makes it a point to have a close contact with his family even though he is far away from home. He spends his free time with them by watching TV, going to malls and visiting other places and a family vacation is scheduled at least once a year. Dir Valencia is a man with kind, sincere and pure heart. He draws his satisfaction by making life more meaningful for everyone. CHD WV personnel views him as a very responsive and hardworking OIC-Director, he makes sure that every staff is heard of whatever opinions they have. Indeed, he is a man of HONOR, INTEGRITY AND DIGNITY.

by: Ms. Mary Yvette T. Ganancial