The program aims to provide direct medical and health services to students, parents, and school staff.
On Tuesday, October 20, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Education Secretary Sonny Angara visited a Kawmpang Elementary School in Patikul, Sulu.
There, they went to oversee the delivery of free healthcare services to students, teachers, and their families through the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), in coordination with the Department of Education (DepEd).
The caravan brought essential medical services — including PhilHealth registration, initial patient assessments, medical and dental consultations, and free medicines — closer to school communities, with the President interacting with students and teachers and inspected booths offering free healthcare services.
Thjs initiative also aims to remove financial and geographical barriers to healthcare by bringing essential medical services closer to communities, particularly schoolchildren and their families.
“Nais ko pong ipahayag na tinutukan ng pamahalaan ang maayos na paglipat ng Sulu mula sa BARMM patungo sa Region IX. Tinitiyak natin na ang ating mga guro ay patuloy na makakapaglingkod at maa-absorb sa bagong administrative na setup,” said the President.
Around 1,280 students, parents, and teachers from Kawmpang Elementary School and another 366 from Martirez Elementary School in Jolo availed the YAKAP services.
Through YAKAP, public schools serve as access points for primary healthcare, which allows students and teachers to receive medical attention without having to travel to hospitals or health centers.
“Sa pagdadala natin ng YAKAP health caravan dito sa Patikul at sa pormal na pagpapasailalim ng SDO Sulu sa DepEd Region IX, tinutupad natin ang utos ng Pangulo na magdala ng mabilis at direktang serbisyo habang pinapatibay ang suporta sa edukasyon sa buong lalawigan,” said Angara.
It also promotes early detection of health conditions that may affect children’s learning, including poor eyesight, hearing problems, dental concerns, malnutrition, and developmental difficulties.
Meanwhile, students requiring further medical attention, including learners with disabilities, may also be referred to appropriate healthcare providers.
Under the initiative, school clinics may partner with PhilHealth-accredited YAKAP providers through the CLASS+ program to expand access to primary care services.
Private healthcare providers and other partners are also encouraged to adopt schools and provide additional medical personnel and services.
The YAKAP initiative complements the government’s school feeding and Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) program by addressing health-related concerns that may affect students’ attendance and academic performance.
TRANSFER
This visit took place following the official approval by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the creation of Schools Division Office in Sulu, including the establishment of 84 corresponding non-teaching plantilla positions under the Department of Education (DepEd) Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula).
Regarding this administrative transition, President Marcos assured a smooth transfer for teachers as Sulu moves from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to Region IX.
“Nakikipag-ugnayan din tayo sa DBM para sa paglikha ng karagdagang plantilla positions para matiyak na ang lahat ay makatawid at walang maiiwanan,” the President noted, as he announced that existing personnel would be absorbed into the new setup.
Secretary Angara has sjnfet tasked DepEd Region IX with overseeing the recruitment, selection, and appointment process.
Priority will be given to qualified personnel currently serving under the BARMM’s Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) in Sulu, in accordance with Civil Service Commission regulations.
The Department of Education (DepEd), in partnership with the provincial government of Sulu, will construct new buildings for Kawmpang Elementary School.
The new school building complex, to be built behind the Sulu Provincial Capitol, will consist of three two-story buildings—each containing 10 classrooms—providing a total of 30 modern classrooms.
