CSU’s Caraga One Health Initiative took the spotlight at the 1st Philippine One Health Conference, as Caraga State University is poised to join the Philippine One Health University Network (PhilOHUN). This milestone marks CSU as a rising national leader in advancing a holistic, systems-based approach to health that links humans, animals, and the environment.
Held at National University – Mall of Asia on January 29–30, 2026, the conference brought together universities, government agencies, international organizations, and development partners under the theme “Bayanihan para sa Isang Kalusugan: Advancing One Health in the Philippines.” In this prestigious gathering, CSU proudly represented the Caraga Region, showcasing how a growing state university from Mindanao can drive innovation in health security and resilience.
CSU’s initiative was presented by Dr. Jesson Butcon of the School of Medicine (SOM) through the paper “Establishing a One Health Initiative in the Caraga Region: Vision, Strategies, and Prospective Outcomes.” The presentation outlined CSU’s roadmap for building a Caraga-wide One Health Network that will connect local government units, health and veterinary offices, agriculture and environment agencies, academic partners, and communities. The initiative aims to strengthen the region’s capacity to prevent and respond to zoonotic diseases, environmental hazards, and emerging health threats by integrating surveillance, research, policy development, and community engagement.
CSU’s prospective membership into PhilOHUN opens new opportunities for collaboration in joint research, capacity building, and knowledge exchange with universities and research centers across the country and the wider Southeast Asian One Health University Network (SEAOHUN). As part of this network, CSU faculty and students will gain access to training, mentoring, and multi-institutional projects that can amplify the impact of local innovations on national and regional health policies.
For Caraga, this development is both symbolic and strategic: it affirms that the region’s unique health, environmental, and development challenges now have a stronger platform in national One Health dialogues. As the Caraga One Health Initiative advances, CSU is positioning itself as a key hub for evidence-based, community-grounded solutions that protect people’s health, safeguard ecosystems, and support sustainable development in Mindanao and beyond.
