Table 3.

Policy recommendations.

S/N	Policy Recommendations	Details
1	Active engagement of other ICAMR agencies	More active participation from DTI, DILG, and DENR will provide a more holistic approach to tackle AMR.
2	More involvement of stakeholders beyond the policymaking level	LGUs should be empowered to implement AMR strategies at the local level. Stakeholders on the ground, such as community pharmacists and those from the backyard farm sector, should be represented during policy discussions.
3	Define clear roles for all relevant stakeholders	Well-defined roles will help improve accountability and coordination required for effective implementation of all aspects of the AMR program. Specifically, greater emphasis must be made in defining the roles of the local governmental units and civil societies.
4	Improve research capacity	AMR research serves to bridge knowledge gaps and provides evidence to build governmental support for development of better policies on AMR.
5	Develop better surveillance systems	The current AMR surveillance system is limited and should be extended to more surveillance sites, including private healthcare facilities, as well as areas in the animal and environmental sectors. This should be supported by strengthening of laboratory infrastructures and capacity. AMU surveillance systems should be established to better assess the level of AMU nationally.
6	Improve coordination across sectors through a One Health approach	Better integration across sectors is crucial to facilitate implementation of the NAP. For example, an integrated AMR surveillance system will provide a clearer idea of the actual AMR situation in the country, possibly elucidating the transmission pathways of certain microorganisms.
7	Strengthen partnerships with organizations at the regional and international level	International collaboration supports knowledge generation and innovation, as well as provides an avenue for better resources and capacity to execute the implementation plans.
8	Develop monitoring and evaluation systems for all implementation plans	Monitoring and evaluation are key in determining effectiveness of a plan and providing evidence to inform policies. Regular monitoring and evaluation activities will advise if the implementation plans are on track or if adjustments must be made.
9	Set intermediate targets for the implementation plans	These intermediate targets will pave a structured and systematic path towards programmatic success.

ICAMR = inter-agency committee on antimicrobial resistance; DTI = department of trade and industry; DILG = department of the interior and local government; DENR = department of environment and natural resources; AMR = antimicrobial resistance; LGUs = local government units; AMU = antimicrobial use; NAP = national action plan.