The Office of Student Activities (OSA) and the University Health Service (UHS) organized the first town hall meeting of the academic year on UPLB’s One-Touch Strategy, which discussed the UPLB medical certificate protocol to forty-nine (49) representatives from student organizations last November 6, 2023 at the Makiling Ballroom Hall, Student Union Building. 

The Pulong Bayan tackled the UPLB pre-participation medical certificate, which is valid for one (1) year after its issuance from UHS. Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Dr. Janette H. Malata-Silva graced the activity with her opening remarks, followed by OSA Officer-in-Charge Director Moses O. Villanueva’s short talk on the conduct of the town hall.

UHS Medical Director Dr. Jessie Imelda Foronda-Walde, MD, gave a brief history of UHS and medical requirements, detailing how the UHS team came about with the One Touch Strategy and its ensuing policy. 

The next speaker, UHS Medical Records Officer Tricia Irynn Tamisin, RND, emphasized the need for students to not miss their schedule for the pre-participation medical certificate, while UHS Deputy Director Dr. Mylah Lourdes R. Avena, MM guided the student leaders through the algorithm for the policy. The discussion wrapped up with a five-minute video summarizing the One Touch Policy.

In partnership with the UPLB Institute of Plant Breeding, participants were served corn grits champorado topped with dilis along with pork barbeque.

Pulong Bayan is a semestral activity of OVCSA-OSA which aims to provide a space where prevailing issues and concerns are addressed.