MANILA – The Department of the Interior and Local Government is supporting the expansion of the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program to schools and other child-serving facilities to make primary healthcare, screening and referral services more accessible to children and learners.
The expansion is covered by a Joint Memorandum Circular signed by the DILG, Department of Education, Department of Health and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, institutionalizing the YAKAP School Health and Protection Program.
The agreement establishes a whole-of-government framework for delivering primary healthcare, developmental screening, referrals and disability-inclusive services through schools and other facilities serving children.
The program covers public and private schools, Community Learning Centers, Child Development Centers, Early Childhood Care and Development facilities and Inclusive Learning Resource Centers.
Beneficiaries include students, teaching and non-teaching personnel and their qualified dependents, as well as out-of-school children and youth in special cases, children in ECCD facilities and learners with developmental delays and disabilities.
The ceremonial signing in Makati City was led by Education Secretary Sonny Angara, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla, Health Secretary Edwin Mercado and PhilHealth acting president and chief executive officer Beverly Ho.
“These are positive steps. These are good, small steps which lead to great victories for our children,” Remulla said.
Under the circular, the DILG will encourage local government units to participate in implementing YAKAP-SHP and provide guidance on their respective roles.
The department will also help monitor LGU implementation and promote the integration of the program with existing local health, child protection, social protection and other development mechanisms.
LGUs are likewise encouraged to ensure that beneficiaries referred under the program have access to appropriate local health and support services.
They are also expected to coordinate with schools, YAKAP clinics, child-serving facilities, DOH health centers and other healthcare providers.
In a separate initiative, the DILG and the Council for the Welfare of Children signed an agreement to strengthen coordination in handling child protection cases reported through Unified 911 and the MAKABATA Helpline 1383.
Under the agreement, Emergency 911 will facilitate referrals for cases requiring immediate police, fire, medical, rescue, social welfare and other government assistance.
Reports involving Online Sexual Abuse and Exploitation of Children, Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation Materials and other digital safety concerns will be referred to MAKABATA 1383 for assessment and intervention.
The CWC will assess reports received through the helpline and refer serious or life-threatening cases to appropriate agencies, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development, local social welfare offices, Barangay Councils for the Protection of Children and Philippine National Police Women and Children Protection Desks.
The council will also train hotline personnel on trauma-informed interviewing and child protection protocols to help prevent re-traumatization of victims.
Both agencies said personal information and call recordings will be handled in compliance with the Data Privacy Act and applicable National Privacy Commission regulations.
As of September 2026, Unified 911 had handled 450 calls nationwide involving children, including cases of abuse, sexual harassment, maltreatment, rape, human trafficking and prostitution.
