From left: CJ Villaester (Manager, AHA! Behavioral Design) Marie Angeles, Executive Director, and Christian Tandoy, Assistant Manager of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Philippines, Lei Ramos (Principal & CMO, AHA! Behavioral Design), receive the 2026 Outstanding CSR Project for Health award at the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) CSR Guild Awards for RMHC Philippines’ BACK-to-BAKuna initiative.
Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Philippines’ flagship community health program, BACK-to-BAKuna, has been named the 2026 Outstanding CSR Project for Health at the League of Corporate Foundations (LCF) CSR Guild Awards. The recognition highlights the program’s innovative efforts to improve childhood immunization completion rates.
BACK-to-BAKuna responds to a key challenge in routine childhood vaccination: although many families start the immunization process, some are unable to complete all the required doses because of missed schedules, concerns, and practical barriers. To address these challenges, the program complements existing public vaccination services with behavior-based strategies that encourage caregivers to keep track of vaccination schedules, prepare for appointments, seek assistance when needed, and return for succeeding doses until their children complete the recommended immunizations.
Piloted in Iloilo City and the Municipality of Janiuay in August 2025, the initiative combined behavioral research, community collaboration, and practical tools such as group vaccine cards, milestone calendars, digital reminders, transport support, and health promotion activities.
Turning vaccination from solo tracking into social follow-through. The ‘group vaccine card’ evolved the usual individual vaccine record into a shared coordination tool, encouraging caregivers to remind one another, plan together, and practice “sabay-sabay” vaccination behavior.
Using a quasi-experimental approach, BACK-to-BAKuna demonstrated significant improvements in vaccination completion, with intervention groups showing greater gains compared to control groups. Findings also showed that caregivers who engaged peers, invited others, and attended vaccination activities together were more likely to complete their children’s vaccination schedules.
“The recognition of BACK-to-BAKuna reflects our commitment to creating meaningful and sustainable solutions that respond to the real needs of Filipino families. By helping caregivers overcome barriers and supporting them throughout their children’s vaccination journey, we are able to strengthen community health outcomes and help more children receive the protection they need,” said Marie Angeles, Executive Director of Ronald McDonald House Charities Philippines.
The program’s innovation lies in recognizing that improving health outcomes requires more than access to services — it requires understanding and supporting the behaviors that influence follow-through.
By tackling the challenges that often extend beyond the initial vaccination visit, BACK-to-BAKuna helped turn access to vaccines into complete childhood immunization. To ensure the program’s long-term impact, RMHC Philippines worked closely with local government units to incorporate its proven tools and strategies into existing immunization processes. With capacity-building assistance and an Adaptation Playbook, local health teams are better equipped to apply the approach as part of their regular health promotion efforts.
The LCF CSR Guild Awards honors organizations that exemplify outstanding corporate citizenship through meaningful and sustainable social development programs. The recognition reinforces RMHC Philippines’ dedication to building healthier communities and helping more Filipino children achieve complete protection through timely and consistent vaccination.
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