Jaker de Claro is a Policy and Health Systems Specialist with over two decades of extensive experience in the Philippine healthcare sector, working across both national and sub-national levels. He supports the ongoing implementation of Universal Health Care (UHC) in the Philippines, where his work is centered on health systems integration, governance, health financing, and strengthening primary care. His dedication to translating evidence into practice fuels his efforts to drive policy innovations and structural reforms that foster sustainable, equitable, and climate-resilient health systems, especially for underserved communities. Jaker’s expertise spans health systems planning, monitoring and evaluation (M&E), health policy and systems research, grants management, aid negotiation, and project management in health programs. As a researcher, he delves into the complexities of health systems and governance within decentralized settings, with a focus on health financing, community engagement, and infection prevention and control. His interdisciplinary approach also encompasses interests at the intersection of land economics, environmental sustainability, and health. A licensed real estate professional, environmental planner, and development practitioner, Jaker is committed to advancing planetary health by integrating insights from these fields into his health systems work.