The Philippine Dentists’ Development Cooperative comprises a group of dentists, committed with the three-pronged mission of service, training and research. Its flagship project, the Pediatric Dentistry Center, fulfills the goals of PDDC for which it was formed. The Cooperative had its beginnings in 1990 and has found its new home in PDC in 1996.

The PDDC’s other projects include the St. Maurice Hunger Program, the Dental Store, and the Loan Facility.

THE PHILIPPINE DENTISTS’ DEVELOPMENT COOPERATIVE - A First for Dentists

It is just becoming known to many that the Pediatric Dentistry Center on Banawe Street, Quezon City, is ran and owned by the Philippine Dentists’ Development Cooperative. The PDC or the Center is actually the flagship project of the PDDC or the Cooperative. The Cooperative was organized in 1996, by 27 members of the Philippine Pediatric Dental Society, Inc. or the PPDSI, primarily, to relocate after its withdrawal from the Philippine Children’s Medical Center. PPDSI, through its committed members, wished to continue with its three-pronged mission of SERVICE, TRAINING, and RESEARCH in Pediatric Dentistry. The Center is the new home of Philippine Pediatric Dentistry that was given life by its earliest proponents in 1990, the few foreign-trained Pediatric Dentists led by Dr. Maria Lourdes P. Caparas and a few general dentists led by orthodontic practitioner Dr. Soledad V. Navarro. The two groups pursued vigorously, the incorporation of Pediatric Dentistry in the total healthcare for the Filipino Child.

The Center has been in healthy existence since 1996. For over eight years now, we have managed against numerous odds, not only to remain afloat but also to make a difference in the dental profession. Unwittingly, we have defied and disproved forecasts of our closure, albeit failure, to realize our objectives. Somehow, we have proven our detractors to be wrong. Some of our cooperators were fearful at the start, but our pioneering spirit drove us onward. The prediction that we would not last two months became a challenge to the core group. We cheered as two members, Drs. Juliet Velas-Gujol and Margarita Regudo were granted a study trip to Australia to prepare a postgraduate curriculum in Pediatric Dentistry. Even if the center’s projected partnership with the University of Baguio and the Australian University did not materialize, the duo’s output in their stint abroad bolstered the Center’s resumption of the Six-Month Externship Training Program in Pediatric Dentistry. This program was first offered at PCMC where we produced 80 graduates of the program. At the Center, the program went through major revisions, and has evolved in the present Twelve-Month Residency Training Program. The Center has produced 5 from the six-month program, 46 from the nine-month program, and 11 from the twelve-month program. Presently, there are three residents in training.

“Kapit-Kapit” or with hands joined together, the Cooperative members, now 37 strong, have weathered negative wishes and countless difficulties of a young organization. Some members have moved elsewhere, but durable ones continue to be enthused about the work in service, training, and research in the Specialty. Founding Chairperson of the Cooperative, Dr. Navarro found strong support from Dr. Vallesteros who replaced Dr. Regudo as Director of the Center, and Dr. Rafael Borromeo who was then most active in the PDC Staff, in the first five years of operations. Dr. Elisha Lupo Martinez was invited by Drs. Vallesteros and Navarro to manage the Cooperative and with strong support from everyone, he managed to deliver on the Cooperative’s promise of dividends for the members during his term as second Chairperson. Dr. Navarro was re-elected as the third chair, a position she welcomes since the Center is her life’s project. It helps very much that the Cooperative enjoys the support of several charitable institutions which partner with us in the work for children’s welfare. It helps very much, that as a Cooperative, we earn enough, to pay for our chosen work, and some dividends for our investment. And it warms our hearts to know that we have served children and their families in the thousands; that we have trained almost 200 dentists who can now work efficiently and effectively even on truly difficult cases in children; and that we now embark on studies so that we may further improve our management techniques and handling of patients and caregivers. It is satisfying to know that we have done all these, for our development as individual persons and professionals, as well as for the development of Pediatric Dentistry in the country.

It has taken years and relentless efforts to win the trust of pediatricians, colleagues in Dentistry, and other healthcare providers. Today, we are happy to report that we have received recognition from national and international health groups for our work: Bronze Award from the HAMIS (Health And Management Information System) June 1994; 1st dental group to receive the award, Most Outstanding Affiliate Society Award from the PDA (Philippine Dental Association) in 4 consecutive years.

From the PDA it had been awarded as:
Most Outstanding Affiliate Society Awards for 4 consecutive years.
Most Outstanding Affiliate in Professional Development Award in 2003
Best Program in Public Health in 2002

•Mall Tour

•Kiddie Smiles Magazine

•School and Community Program

PDA also recognizes PPDSI as the only pediatric dentistry group to win top awards for Alay Parada.

International Association of Pediatric Dentistry (IAPD) awarded us 4th Recognition Award for oral health school program for “Bright Smiles, Bright Future Campaign” last Sept 2001 at Palais des Congress in Paris France where 77 entries from 33 countries competed.

PPDSI is the only specialty group in the country to become a member of Pediatric Dentistry Association of Asia (PDAA) and International Association of Pediatric Dentistry (IAPD).

Last September 26, 2004, our Director and President of PPDSI Dr. Manuel V. Vallesteros delivered a lecture in Bangkok, Thailand in recognition of our timely and relevant efforts in Pediatric Dentistry. He has also been invited to participate in the IAPD Convention in Australia in November 2005. In November 2004, Dr. Vallesteros participated in the IAPD Convention. He has been asked to present his programs of Preventive Dentistry.

Again in November 2005, the same IAPD awarded PPDSI with the grand prize for the entry “Munting Ngiti” - the joint project with Lipa City. Dr. Vallesteros accepted the prize in Sydney, Australia, another laurel on our crown.

The Cooperative, through the Center, has gone a long way. With God’s blessings, it hopes to continue with its mission of excellent-quality service to as many children as possible.