Eighty delegates of the 2025 MIMAROPA Regional Adolescent and Youth Health and Development (AYHD) Summit toured the Roots of Health (Ugat ng Kalusugan) Youth Clinic on August 13 for a learning activity, praising it as a model for adolescent-friendly health services in the region. 

Participants, led by Commission on Population and Development MIMAROPA Director Reynaldo O. Wong, commended the clinic’s privacy measures, non-judgmental, youth-centered approach, and vibrant, well-equipped facilities.

“We believe it’s essential for young people to have a safe, private, and well-equipped space for their health needs. We hope our work can inspire similar initiatives across MIMAROPA and beyond,” said Joan Karla Laja, Clinical Programs Director of Roots of Health.



Located along Rizal Avenue in Puerto Princesa, the DOH-recognized, PhilHealth-accredited Youth Clinic provides free, confidential reproductive health services and education to young people. Services include family planning counseling, contraceptives, prenatal checkups, Pap smears, talk therapy, STI and HIV screening, and Pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention (PrEP).

It also gives away free menstrual cups and Pad-Ibig Diaries pads — playful, specially packaged menstrual products made possible by corporate partners — and has a condom dispenser right outside its door so anyone can access protection without sign-ups or questions 24/7.

The clinic features two consultation areas, a counseling space, and a private examination room, serving over 1,000 clients annually. Its team includes a medical doctor, nurses, midwives, HIV coordinators, a social worker, and youth advocates—all trained in adolescent health, with expertise in HIV screening and counseling, community-based service delivery, and Filipino Sign Language.


Since 2009, Roots of Health has reached over 100,000 young people with reproductive health education, provided contraceptives to 50,000 women, and trained 7,000 health workers, teachers, and planners in youth-friendly care, sexuality education, and health data management. 

The Puerto Princesa City Health Office recently recognized the organization as a key partner in driving down the city’s teen pregnancy rate by 60% between 2017 and 2023.

The learning visit was part of the three-day AYHD Summit, held August 11–13 at the Edward S. Hagedorn Coliseum in Puerto Princesa City. With the theme “Kabataan, Level Up para sa Bagong Pilipinas,” the summit brought together youth representatives, local government units, civil society organizations, and development partners to address reproductive health, mental health, nutrition, and other key issues affecting young people. ###