Juan Flavier | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait as a senator | |
| President pro tempore of the Senate of the Philippines | |
| In office August 12, 2002 – June 30, 2007 | |
| Preceded by | Manuel Villar |
| Succeeded by | Jinggoy Estrada |
| Senator of the Philippines | |
| In office June 30, 1995 – June 30, 2007 | |
| 20thSecretary of Health | |
| In office July 1, 1992 – January 30, 1995 | |
| President | Fidel V. Ramos |
| Preceded by | Antonio Periquet |
| Succeeded by | Jaime Galvez-Tan |
| Chairman of theDangerous Drugs Board | |
| In office 1992–1995 | |
| President | Fidel V. Ramos |
| Preceded by | Antonio Periquet |
| Succeeded by | Jaime Galvez-Tan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Juan Martin Flavier (1935-06-23)June 23, 1935 |
| Died | October 30, 2014(2014-10-30) (aged 79) Quezon City, Philippines |
| Nationality | Filipino |
| Political party | Lakas |
| Spouse | Alma Susana Aguila Flavier |
| Children | 4 |
| Alma mater | University of the Philippines Manila (M.D.) Johns Hopkins University (M.P.H.) |
| Profession | Physician |
Juan Martin Flavier (Tagalog pronunciation:[hwanmɐɾˈtɪnflaˈvjeɹ]; June 23, 1935 – October 30, 2014) was a Filipino physician and politician. He served as theSecretary of Health under PresidentFidel V. Ramos from 1992 to 1995, and was later elected to theSenate, serving from 1995 to 2007.
Flavier was born inTondo, Manila.[1] He was born in a very poor family to semi-literate parents.[2] He eventually moved toBaguio where he finished his secondary studies at theBaguio City National High School. He is trained as a doctor and received his Doctor of Medicine degree from theUP College of Medicine at theUniversity of the Philippines Manila in 1960 and Masters in Public Health from theBloomberg School of Public Health atJohns Hopkins University in 1969.
He was known for his short stature at only 1.50 meters (4 ft 11 in).[2]
Flavier went to serve poor ruralbarangays inNueva Ecija andCavite as a "doctor to the barrios".[1] He was a "country doctor" for 30 years.[2] His work was recognized and he was appointed president of thePhilippine Rural Reconstruction Movement.[1] in 1967. From 1978 to 1992, he was president of theInternational Institute of Rural Reconstruction.
In 1992, Philippine PresidentFidel Ramos appointed Flavier Secretary of the Department of Health.[2] During his term, he initiated various health programs such as "Lets DOH it", "Yosi Kadiri",Oplan Alís Disease,Kontra Kolera,Stop TB,Araw ngSangkáp Pinoy,Family Planning andDoctor to the Barrios Program.[3] During his termbarangay health workers were organized.[4] He served as Secretary of the Department of Health until 1995. He was regularly rated one of the most popular government officials and his department one of the most effective.[2] He was perhaps the most popular Secretary of Health.[4]
In 1995, he ran for senator and won under the Ramos administration ticket and was re-elected to a second term in the 2001 elections, placing second among the 12 winning candidates. As senator, he authored and sponsored several landmark bills including the Traditional Medicine Law,[5] the Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act,[5] Philippine Clean Air Act,[5] Indigenous People's Rights Act,[5] Anti-money Laundering Act,[5] Barangay Micro-Business Enterprise,[5] National Service Training Program for Tertiary Students,[5] Dangerous Drugs Act,[5] Plant Variety Protection Act,[5] Philippine Nursing Act,[5] the Tobacco Regulation Act,[5] and the law declaringEid'l Fitr a nationalpublic holiday in the Philippines.[5]
When he was senator he had a perfect attendance record during sessions, a fact mentioned in the Senate resolution marking his death, which read in part, "The hard-working legislator registered a perfect attendance during the sessions and was instrumental in the enactment of landmark legislations promoting public health care and improving the quality of life of the people."[6] He was also the "poorest" senator, with a net worth on his 2005Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SALN) of 3.49 millionPhilippine pesos.[7]
Flavier was also formerly a resident presenter onKapwa Ko Mahal Ko, a public service programme onGMA Network.
Flavier was portrayed in Magpakailanman byOgie Alcasid.
Flavier died ofpneumonia-relatedsepsis andorgan failure at 16:00PST (GMT+8) on October 30, 2014, at the age of 79.[8] He was admitted to the intensive care unit of theNational Kidney and Transplant Institute inQuezon City as early as September 11.
Flavier wrote a regular newspaper column about his experiences as a doctor in the countryside, even while he served at Health Secretary.[2]
Below is a listing of works authored by Flavier,[9] includingDoctor to the Barrios, wherein he narrates his experience working with and for thePhilippine Rural Reconstruction Movement.
|  | |
Senatorial history of Juan Flavier | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
| Other | |
