DepEd and PhilHealth launch school-based YAKAP health screening
The health, education, interior and PhilHealth chiefs signed a joint circular on October 6 creating the YAKAP School Health and Protection Program, expanding PhilHealth's YAKAP primary care scheme to public schools, with a target of up to 26 million students, teachers and school personnel (Daily Tribune). Public schools become enrolment centres for PhilHealth and clinic selection, with on-campus screenings for vision, hearing, dental, nutrition and mental health. The first pilot is at Philippine Science High School in Quezon City, with 1,440 students and 340 staff among the first recipients.
School-based screening can catch problems early for families who rarely visit clinics.
Parents of public-school children should expect enrolment and screening notices from their schools.
Scale is the test: 26 million is a target, not a service delivered yet.
DailyDrop Philippines edition No. 3 · Morning · WED., OCT. 7, 2026