BUILDING PUBLIC HEALTH RESILIENCE: LESSONS FROM COVID-19 FOR FUTURE HEALTH CRISES IN ZAMBOANGA CITY

Abstract

This study examined the resilience of Zamboanga City’s public health system during the COVID-19 pandemic to derive lessons for future crises aligned with SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-Being) and SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). Guided by Futures Thinking, it assessed pandemic preparedness, crisis administration, and response and recovery through a mixed-methods design combining surveys, key informant interviews, and document review for triangulation. Quantitative results showed that preparedness (M = 2.86), crisis administration (M = 2.94), and response and recovery (M = 2.93) were rated “Effective,” with acceptable reliability (α = 0.66–0.86). Qualitative findings emphasized governance accountability, risk anticipation, coordination, and community empowerment. Futures tools— Triangle, Wheel, and Backcasting—projected a shift from reactive response toward anticipatory, data-driven, and inclusive governance by 2040. If appropriate actions are sustained to design the preferred future, Zamboanga City can transition toward a resilient health sector consistent with AmBisyon Natin 2040.