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Background. A 2017 situational analysis assessing Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) development in the Philippines revealed CPGs of inconsistent quality. In response, the Department of Health (DOH)-Philippine Health Insurance Corporation Manual for CPG Development was developed to outline the standardized steps of the CPG development process. To implement this, technically qualified institutions and individuals should be commissioned. Objective. To identify qualified institutions and individuals and map out their technical skills and potential for capacit building in CPG development Methods. Mixed methods were used in this cross-sectional study. A snowballing method identified specific institutions and individuals. Self-administered surveys and key informant interviews were conducted to determine competence, strengths, and gaps in the development of CPGs. Results. A total of 74 individuals from 45 institutions with competencies in CPG development were identified. Of the 45 institutions, 72% were non-clinical, with roughly half working on formal research. Of the 74 individuals, 96% possessed relevant knowledge and skills and 85% already provided training on CPG development topics. Around half of the respondents have been part of a CPG development task force. Only about half were able to incorporate social concepts of equity, and only one-third had experience in managing conflicts of interest. Conclusion. Qualified institutions and individuals identified in this capacity mapping can be tapped in future CPG development in the country. Incorporation of social concepts and management of conflicts of interest still need to be ensured.

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Globally, the neonatal mortality rate is the highest contributor to all deaths in children under five years of age. Children, particularly newborn infants, continue to face widespread regional disparities in their chances of survival. The year 2015 marked the official end of the period set by the United Nations to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). New targets, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), aim to end preventable deaths of newborns and children and to reduce the neonatal mortality rate in all countries. There is a sense of urgency to implement large-scale, high-impact interventions to improve maternal and newborn care before, during, and in the immediate period following birth. Two of the highly successful and widely available interventions to improve neonatal outcome are kangaroo mother care (KMC) and breast-feeding. However, the threat of COVID-19 to ongoing efforts may further compromise the chances of success in improving neonatal mortality, particularly in low- and medium-income countries (LMICs).