TACLOBAN CITY — Eastern Visayas posted a strong performance in the April 2026 Midwives Licensure Examination, with seven examinees from the region landing in the list of topnotchers, the Professional Regulation Commission announced on April 20.
The results come amid continuing concerns over the nationwide shortage of midwives, with health worker groups earlier warning that the gap continues to affect maternal and newborn care, especially in far-flung and underserved communities.
Out of 2,124 examinees who took the exams on April 14–15, a total of 901 passed, yielding a national passing rate that highlights both the demand and competitiveness of the profession.
Leading the Eastern Visayas passers are Kryzza Jkah Balane Ramalla and Eden Bissok Sakiting of the University of the Philippines School of Health Sciences, who both ranked 4th place with a rating of 93.10 percent.
They were followed by Evz Darelle Capablanca Gandolfos (6th place), Jeliane Malbas Gargantilla (7th), Shirly Baliad Tenio (8th), and Marie Chris Olanio Valdez (9th).
Completing the regional achievers is Graceil Rado Dacuno of the Eastern Samar State University, who placed 10th overall.
The strong showing of Eastern Visayas examinees is seen as a positive development amid the continuing call to strengthen the country’s midwifery workforce, which plays a critical role in community-based healthcare services.
(RICARDO TODIO, LNU STUDENT INTERN)
