Government agencies gear up for new school year

CEBU, Philippines — Ahead of the opening of classes on June 8, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. directed agencies to ensure that public schools are ready and that learners' welfare is protected.

While classrooms are being prepared through Brigada Eskwela, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) is strengthening health protection for students, teachers, and personnel of the Department of Education (DepEd) through the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP), the primary preventive care benefit for all Filipinos.

Through YAKAP, vital health services are brought closer to schools and communities. The program allows early detection and treatment of illnesses, helping reduce student absences and minimizing work disruptions for parents caring for sick children.

Schools are among the priority areas for YAKAP implementation, ensuring that learners, through their parents, receive regular guidance from their chosen primary care provider on maintaining their health from an early age. With easier access to health services, students can focus more on their studies.

To date, 66 schools nationwide, 10 of which are in Central Visayas, have partnered with PhilHealth in boosting YAKAP services, serving a total of 7,084 parents, teachers, and school personnel.

This number, according to PhilHealth-7, is expected to grow in the coming days as the agency and DepEd continue their collaboration to build healthier learning communities.

Under YAKAP, beneficiaries may receive medical consultations, basic laboratory or diagnostic tests, and medicines based on the assessment and recommendations of their primary care provider or YAKAP Clinic physician.

PhilHealth President and CEO Dr. Edwin Mercado emphasized, “Ang aming pakikilahok sa Brigada Eskwela ay higit pa sa paghahanda ng kanilang kapaligiran. Layunin naming makabuo ng isang matibay na proteksyong pangkalusugan para sa ating mga mag-aaral. Sa pamamagitan ng YAKAP, isinasakatuparan natin ang bisyon ng Pangulo na mabigyan ng kapanatagan ang mga magulang tungkol sa kalusugan ng kanilang mga anak bago pa man magsimula ang pasukan.”

Choosing one’s YAKAP Clinic may be done through the eGov app, or the PhilHealth Member Portal on its website, or at the nearest PhilHealth Local Health Insurance Office (LHIO).

Meanwhile, the government earlier provided jobs to 243,000 workers nationwide under the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program for Brigada Eskwela beginning June 1 to 5, helping prepare public schools for the opening of classes while providing income support to Filipino families.

This is in line with the President’s directive to ensure that classrooms and learning facilities are ready, safe, and conducive to learning ahead of the June 8 back-to-school season.

From June 1 to 5, TUPAD beneficiaries were deployed to public schools across the country and received P5,000 in compensation for participating in school preparation and improvement activities.

Their tasks include classroom cleaning, waste management, hauling of furniture and learning materials, vegetation clearing, landscaping, repainting, and other non-technical campus improvement works.

According to Executive Secretary Ralph Recto, the initial rollout covers 5,000 priority schools, including large, mega, and geographically isolated and disadvantaged area (GIDA) schools in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao.

In a separate initiative, the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Central Visayas (DSWD-7), through the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), has stepped up its “Bata Balik Eskwela” campaign across the region to encourage school re-enrollment among children identified as not attending school (NAS).

The initiative, implemented in partnership with local government units, schools, and community stakeholders, aims to address barriers to education and support families in preparing children for School Year 2026–2027.

In Bohol, 18 4Ps children and their parents in Panglao participated in a Parent-Child Relationship Encounter on May 26, featuring sessions on self-awareness, trust-building, and family strengthening activities such as journaling and shared reflections. In Valencia, 15 NAS children joined a similar program that included discussions on Republic Act No. 9344 and the causes of school absenteeism.

In Cebu, 112 children in Pinamungajan took part in learning and reflection sessions, culminating in an oath of commitment to return to school.

Meanwhile, in Madridejos, 160 monitored youths participated in the “Kapehan sa mga Puyang Pantawid,” where they discussed challenges such as peer pressure, teenage pregnancy, and school difficulties.

In Consolacion, 150 NAS children attended an LGU-funded activity that provided school supplies, meals, and motivational talks, supported by a P214,100 allocation under the Gender and Development program.

DSWD-7 said the campaign continues to strengthen efforts to ensure that no child is left behind in education by promoting family support, community engagement, and compliance with 4Ps education conditions. — (FREEMAN)