The City Health Office (CHO) will begin issuing health cards on January 7, 2026, at the 5th floor of Gaisano Ilustre, as a measure to safeguard Dabawenyos from workplace health concerns.
Dr. Isagani Paul N. Braganza, Dispensary unit head of the CHO, explained that the health card system ensures workers are medically fit and capable of performing their duties without endangering others.
“Ang importansiya sa health card para makita nato nga fit to work ang atoang matag empleyado sa trabahoan. As per city ordinance, tanan empleyado na mag trabaho kinahanglan gyud na siya’g health card (The importance of the health card is so that we can see that each of our employees is fit to work in their workplace. As per city ordinance, all employees must have a health card,” he told Madayaw Davao over Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) on January 6, 2026.
Employees must comply with the requirements in order to obtain a health card, including a chest x-ray valid for six months, urinalysis and fecalysis valid for three months, an official receipt for the health card worth Php 50 from the City Treasurer’s Office, cedula, and a valid ID with an image.
However, food industry employees are further required to attend a food safety seminar and obtain a certificate of attendance.
Workers in jobs involving the exchange of body fluids must also present a Hepatitis B Antibody test to secure a pink card.
He also assured Dabawenyos that the process has been deliberately streamlined to remove unnecessary delays and make compliance easy for all employees.
“It takes you only a matter of minutes. Pag adto nimo didtoa, except for the food orientation kay it will take them 30 minutes so mao to madugay sila didto. Pero, sa non-food og sa pink health card dali ra kaayo kay once na itunol na nila, a matter of minutes pag pirma ana nila, humana (It only takes you a matter of minutes. When you go there, except for the food orientation because it will take them 30 minutes, that’s how long they will be there. But, for the non-food and the pink health card, it’s very easy because once you hand over your requirements and have been signed, you will now have your health card),” he added.
Braganza also explained that the health cards are classified into three categories – yellow for food industry workers, green for non-food employees, and pink for occupations requiring skin-to-skin contact such as massage therapists and nurses.
The CHO emphasized that the health card system is a critical measure to ensure employees are medically fit to work and uphold safety standards across various workplaces in the city. CIO
Written by: K. Malasado
Edited by: A. Nawal
Photo by: E. Morata
