TY - GEN AU - Magtarayo, April G. AU - Cruzada, Evelyn C. (Panel Chairperson) AU - Plopinio, Dave Isidore E. (Institutional Partner) AU - Roberto, Generoso D. (External Expert) TI - Capacity building of municipal health team to improve the health information system of the municipality of Esperanza, Masbate KW - Department of Health KW - Healthinformation systems KW - Rural health N1 - Graduate School of Public and Development Management N2 - The study was done in the municipality of Esperanza, Masbate where it focused on its health information system and the factors that affect quality of the health data gathered in terms of timeliness, completeness, accuracy and consistency. It sought answers also on what factors and gaps in management in the Rural Health Unit that made the quality of the health data poor. Finally, this study investigated the possible actions and strategies to improve the quality of data. The methods used in this study were qualitative and is descriptive in approach. interviews were done on key informants from the Regional health office of Department of Health (DOH), Provincial Health office (PHO) of Masbate, and Rural health unit (RHU) of Esperanza Masbate. Focus Group Discussion were also done with the RHU staff which helped the study in identifying the gaps in the health team skill and capacity to handle health data and their management that affects the quality of health information gathered. It was found that timeliness, completeness, accuracy and consistency of health data was greatly affected by the low knowledge, orientation, and capacity on the health data gathering and management which ultimately resulted to poor quality of health information presented for the Rural Health Unit. The factors that were identified that rendered low quality of data were poor identification of cases, late submissions, incomplete data gathering and documentation, poor understanding of health terms and underutilization of health forms. It was also elucidated that the ongoing system of data management in the RHU is not concurrent with the standards and ideal way of managing the health data. The study concluded that there is poor health information system in the rural health unit of Esperanza. Furthermore. there is a need to improve the capacity of the health team in handling the health data and a need for a monitoring and evaluation system coupled with a policy strengthening to improve the health system information ER -