By Brian Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has directed the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) to coordinate with concerned government agencies for the expansion of the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) to cover more Filipinos and boost their health protection.
At the Malacañang press briefing Wednesday, Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the President’s directive came after PhilHealth in collaboration with the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), launched YAKAP for workers on Tuesday.
“Primary healthcare at gamot, abot-kamay ng mga manggagawang Pilipino. Ito ang direktiba ng Pangulo,” Castro said.
Under YAKAP, members will receive free essential medicines and primary health care services, including medical check-ups, cancer screenings, and laboratory tests—all aimed at promoting prevention and early detection of illnesses.
“Hindi na hadlang ang busy schedule sa pag-aalaga ng kalusugan. Inilapit na ng PhilHealth sa mga opisina, eskuwela, at komunidad ang health services para sa mga mamamayan,” Castro said.
She also urged the public to register for free on PhilHealth’s YAKAP through the eGovPH mobile application, PhilHealth member portal, or by visiting its local offices and YAKAP clinics.
“Walang maiiwan, lahat maaalagaan, lahat ng Pilipino ay puwedeng maging miyembro ng YAKAP,” the Palace press briefer said.
During the YAKAP launch at Yazaki-Torres Manufacturing Inc. (YTMI) in Calamba City, Laguna, PhilHealth acting President and CEO, Dr. Edwin Mercado underscored the administration’s commitment to expanding health care services by rolling out community-based programs across the country.
“Ito po ay ginagawa natin alinsunod sa utos ng ating mahal na Presidente na dapat po iparamdam ng gobyerno ang pag-aaruga at benepisyong binibigay hanggang doon sa pababa,” Mercado said.
“Kasi nga itong YAKAP ay community-based dapat. Hindi ‘yung pupunta ka pa sa malayong ospital. Ito po ay nandirito at accessible sa inyo. Ito po ay pinupulido natin upang tiyakin na masulit at wasto ang pinaglalaanan ng ating kontribusyon,” he added.
DOLE Sec. Bienvenido Laguesma said the rollout of YAKAP for the labor sector aims to raise awareness among employers and workers about the health benefits they are entitled to as members of PhilHealth—urging them to fully embrace the program.
“Ito pong ginagawa namin ay pagtugon at pagtalima sa tagubilin ng ating Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. na ang mga serbisyo ng pamahalaang nasyonal ay dapat na makaabot sa higit na nangangailangan, lalo na sa mga manggagawa sapagkat sila ay nakatutulong upang lumago ang ating ekonomiya,” Laguesma said.
“Nais naming ipakita na ang programa ay malaki ang pwedeng ipagkaloob na tulong lalo sa ating mga manggagawa. Kailangan ay yakapin natin yung programa dahil ito po ay social protection in action, na nagbibigay ng preventive at primary care. Itong programang ito ay sumasalamin at nagpapatunay ng malasakit at pag-aaruga sa ating mga manggagawa,” he added.
The program’s launch in Calamba City on Thursday coincided with simultaneous rollouts in 48 sites nationwide, delivering outpatient primary care to over 45,000 workers.
According to DOLE, at least 24 million wage and salary workers are expected to benefit from YAKAP, which is an enhanced version of PhilHealth’s Konsulta Program.
-jpv
