Who is Juan Flavier?

Answer 1

Juan Martin Flavier (1935-2014) was a politician from the Philippines, where he served as Secretary of the Department of Health and as a senator. He was trained as a Medical Doctor. He received his degree in Medicine from the prestigious University of the Philippines (Manila) in 1960 and his Masters in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University. He served as an elected senator from Nueva Ecija and Cavite.

Flavier became president of the Philippine Rural Reconstruction Movement in 1977 and from 1978 to 1992 was President of the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction. In 1992, he was appointed by President Ramos as Secretary of the Department of Health. He initiated various health programs such as Oplan Alis Disease, Kontra Kolera, Stop TB, Araw ng Sangkap Pinoy, Family Planning and Doctor to the Barrios Program.

He ran for senator under the administration ticket in 1995, was elected and then reelected in a runoff in 2001. In the senate, he authored and sponsored landmark legislations such as the Traditional Medicine Law, the Poverty Alleviation Law, the Clean Air Act and the Indigenous People's Rights Act.

He died on October 30, 2014 at the age of 79.