Juan Flavier

In thisPhilippine name,themiddle nameor maternalfamily nameisMartinand the surname or paternal family name isFlavier.

The Honorable Juan M. Flavier
21stPresident 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
Secretary 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 Tondo,Manila,Philippine Islands
Died	October 30, 2014(2014-10-30)(aged 79) Quezon City,Philippines
Nationality	Filipino
Political party	Lakas–CMD/Lakas–Kampi–CMD
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 Healthunder PresidentFidel V. Ramosfrom 1992 to 1995, and was later elected to theSenate,serving from 1995 to 2007.

Early life

Flavier was born inTondo, Manila.He was born in a very poor family to semi-literate parents.He eventually moved toBaguiowhere 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 Medicineat theUniversity of the Philippines Manilain 1960 and Masters in Public Health from theBloomberg School of Public HealthatJohns Hopkins Universityin 1969.

He was known for his short stature at only 1.50 meters (4 ft 11 in).

Career

"Doctor to the Barrios"

Flavier went to serve poor ruralbarangaysinNueva EcijaandCaviteas a "doctor to the barrios".He was a "country doctor" for 30 years.His work was recognized and he was appointed president of thePhilippine Rural Reconstruction Movement.in 1967. From 1978 to 1992, he was president of theInternational Institute of Rural Reconstruction.

Department of Health

In 1992, Philippine PresidentFidel Ramosappointed Flavier Secretary of the Department of Health.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 PlanningandDoctor to the Barrios Program.During his termbarangay health workerswere organized.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.He was perhaps the most popular Secretary of Health.

Philippine Senate

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,the Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act,Philippine Clean Air Act,Indigenous People's Rights Act,Anti-money Laundering Act,Barangay Micro-Business Enterprise,National Service Training Program for Tertiary Students,Dangerous Drugs Act,Plant Variety Protection Act,Philippine Nursing Act,the Tobacco Regulation Act,and the law declaringEid'l Fitra nationalpublic holiday in the Philippines.

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."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.

Flavier was also formerly a resident presenter onKapwa Ko Mahal Ko,a public service programme onGMA Network.

Death

Flavier died ofpneumonia-relatedsepsisandorgan failureat 16:00PST(GMT+8) on October 30, 2014, at the age of 79.He was admitted to the intensive care unit of theNational Kidney and Transplant InstituteinQuezon Cityas early as September 11.

Works

Flavier wrote a regular newspaper column about his experiences as a doctor in the countryside, even while he served at Health Secretary.

Below is a listing of works authored by Flavier,includingDoctor to the Barrios,wherein he narrates his experience working with and for thePhilippine Rural Reconstruction Movement.

Books

• Doctor to the Barrios,Experiences with the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement(1970)
• My Friends in the Barrios(1974)
• Back to the Barrios: Balikbaryo(1978)
• Parables of the Barrio: Vol. I(1988)
• Parables of the Barrio: Vol. II, Nos. 51-100(1989)
• Parables of the Barrio: Vol. III, Nos. 101-150(1991)
• Let's DOH It!: How We Did It(1998)
• From Barrio to Senado: an Autobiography(2009)

Papers

• Mobilizing Local Leaders for Rural Development: The Case of the People's School (IIRR working paper, 1980)