DOH, PhilHealth, DepEd and DILG unite to bring YAKAP healthcare directly to students

by Info @Brand Zone | October 7, 2026

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PR No.: 2026-25 / October 6, 2026  

Four government agencies—DOH, DepEd, DILG, and PhilHealth—have joined forces  under a Joint Memorandum Circular (JMC) to launch the YAKAP School Health and  Protection Program (YAKAP-SHP), reinforcing the government’s commitment to  safeguarding the health and well-being of Filipino children.  

The agreement was officially signed today by Health Secretary Dr. Edwin M. Mercado,  PhilHealth Acting President and CEO Dr. Beverly Lorraine C. Ho, Education Secretary  Juan Edgardo "Sonny" M. Angara, and Interior and Local Government Secretary Juanito  Victor "Jonvic" Remulla.  

Aligned with Pillar I of the Unified National Agenda for Health (UNA Para sa  Kalusugan) and in response to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s call for stronger child health intervention, YAKAP-SHP delivers preventive care directly to schools and  learning centers nationwide. In line with the Department of Health'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, the program places particular emphasis on early detection and  management of developmental delays and disabilities from birth through the school  years. 

This inter-agency partnership establishes a whole-of-government framework to achieve  three core objectives: expand access to YAKAP, establish a continuum of care, and  strengthen implementation mechanisms by enhancing financing, securing parental/ guardian consent mechanisms for YAKAP participation, and coordinating service  delivery to ensure seamless and accessible care navigation. 

“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.  And because it's really a challenge to get people to appreciate what this is, we're hoping  that the very visual impact that we can see in schools will make Filipino families believe  in the YAKAP program and also want to take part in it.”, said APCEO Ho.  

Under the JMC, YAKAP-SHP will be rolled out across public and private basic education  schools, Community Learning Centers (CLCs), Child Development Centers (CDCs),  other Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) centers/facilities, and Inclusive  Learning Resource Centers (ILRCs).

The program will benefit basic education personnel as well as students across all  learning levels including early childhood learners, Alternative Learning System (ALS)  enrollees such as out-of-school children (OSC) and out-of-school youth (OSY), and  children with special needs or developmental delays and disabilities identified through  school or ILRC-based health screenings. 

Through YAKAP-SHP, students, school personnel, and out-of-school youth will gain  direct access to essential health services within their schools and learning centers. These  include YAKAP on-site clinic assignment, 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. 

Parents, guardians, and school communities are invited to join upcoming school-based  orientation and empanelment sessions. Families can also assign or update their chosen  YAKAP Clinic anytime through the PhilHealth Member Portal. 

For more information on YAKAP benefits and accredited partner clinics, visit  www.philhealth.gov.ph or contact the PhilHealth Action Center at (02) 8662-2588.###