YAKAP embraces 26-M learners, educators, school staff
YAKAP-SHP beneficiaries can avail of routine health screenings, access to outpatient medicines and diagnostic tests, on-site specialist care for developmental delays, and dedicated care navigators.
A LEARNER (left) from Salitran IV Integrated High School gets free eye examination under the PhilHealth YAKAP in Mangoville, Barangay Salitran IV, Dasmariñas City, Cavite on 29 September 2026.
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF SHAHIBAH MACATANONG
The PhilHealth YAKAP (Yaman ng Kalusugan Program) is expanding is healthcare service to cover 26 million students, teachers and non-teaching personnel of public and private schools nationwide.
The expansion of the YAKAP’s scope is being implemented by the Department of Health (DoH), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and PhilHealth through their joint memorandum circular launching the YAKAP School Health and Protection Program (YAKAP-SHP).
DoH Secretary Dr. Edwin M. Mercado, PhilHealth acting president and CEO Dr. Beverly Lorraine C. Ho, DepEd Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” M. Angara, and DILG Secretary Juanito Victor “Jonvic” Remulla signed the agreement in Makati City last 6 October to formalize the YAKAP-SHP rollout.
While the YAKAP for PhilHealth members formally launched last 14 September covered outpatients in accredited private and public hospitals nationwide, various YAKAP-SHP benefits would be accessed in public and private basic education schools, community learning centers (CLCs), child development centers (CDCs), other early childhood care and development centers/facilities (ECDCs), and inclusive learning resource centers (ILRC). CLCs, CDCs and ECDCs are under the jurisdiction of local government units.
YAKAP-SHP benefits are inclusive with dependents of teachers and basic education personnel, Alternative Learning System enrollees such as out-of-school children and out-of-school youth, and children with special needs or developmental delays and disabilities identified through school or ILRC-based health screenings, covered. The beneficiaries can avail of routine health screenings, access to outpatient medicines and diagnostic tests, on-site specialist care for developmental delays, and dedicated care navigators to guide families through referrals and follow-up care.
YAKAP-SHP is in line with the DoH’s Healthy Learning Institutions Program that recognizes educational institutions as key settings for cultivating health and integrates health promotion into school policies, services, facilities and systems, particularly early detection and management of developmental delays and disabilities from birth through the school years.
“This JMC brings to us the opportunity to scale things up — from reaching just a few million students or learners who can be benefit from YAKAP, we’re targeting all 26 million learners including the teachers and non-teaching staff as well as their families,” Ho said at the signing of the JMC.