BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

To ensure that school communities are physically and mentally healthy, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. and Education Secretary Sonny Angara led the Yaman ng Kalusugan (YAKAP) Caravan today at Aurora National High School. 

The caravan is part of CLASS+ (Clinics for Learners’ Access to School-health Services Plus), a program of the Department of Education (DepEd) and PhilHealth that aims to link school clinics with the local health system. This is implemented through PhilHealth Konsulta, the agency’s primary care benefit package that provides consultations, laboratory tests, and medicines. 

PhilHealth has now expanded and strengthened Konsulta into the new YAKAP Program. The YAKAP Program aims to care for all Filipinos and keep them healthy through free check-ups, laboratory tests, cancer screening tests, and medicines. Each member is entitled to up to P20,000 worth of medicines per year. 

At the caravan in Aurora, more than 200 elementary students underwent eye check-ups. Meanwhile, over 350 teachers, non-teaching personnel, and high school students benefited from various medical services such as X-rays, ECG, urinalysis, and ultrasound. 

This event follows the successful caravan at Esteban Abada Elementary School in Quezon City on June 18, 2025, which was attended by Secretary Angara, Health Secretary Ted Herbosa, and Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte. Together with 1Life Philippines, a private diagnostics company, DepEd, DOH, PhilHealth, and LGUs are collaborating to provide a first patient encounter and periodic check-ups for students, teachers, and non-teaching personnel. DepEd aims to expand not only the caravan drive but also the CLASS+ program to other regions. 

Secretary Angara emphasized the importance of collaboration for school-based health. “The health of our school communities is the foundation of quality education. Through CLASS+ and YAKAP, we are ensuring that the DepEd family has the strength and vitality to achieve our collective goals,” he said. 

President Bongbong Marcos asserted that programs like CLASS+ and YAKAP are a testament to his administration’s “whole-of-nation approach.” With the help of private partners, the government is ensuring support for Filipino families, especially for teachers and the youth. 

*All Photos from DepEd