Alagang PAWsitibo: Animal Assisted Intervention as a Wellness in the Workplace Program

One of the projects of Communtails, Alagang PAWsitibo tackles the development and pilot implementation of an Animal-Assisted Intervention (AAI) as a wellness program for personnel at the National Center for Mental Health (NCMH). This is the very first time AAI is being piloted at a hospital facility in the Philippines. 

The project responds to the urgent need to support the emotional well-being of healthcare workers facing chronic stress, burnout, and emotional fatigue, conditions that have been further intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic and sustained institutional demands. The pilot seeks to demonstrate that AAIs can serve as a low-barrier, culturally responsive wellness strategy that complements existing support systems for healthcare workers. Findings from this pilot will inform the potential scale-up and institutional integration of AAI in hospitals and even in public health programs.

The project was completed in September 2025.