Dennis Gasgonia

Philhealth Local office at Mother Ignacia Street, Quezon City, June 7, 2019.  Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Raphael Bosano

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/178729957434720260821080852_592322524e28fdbb4c46c372702bf42f3c88df17bba9acb0f971c3f9ded93b88.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Philhealth Local office at Mother Ignacia Street, Quezon City, June 7, 2019.  Mark Demayo, ABS-CBN News </span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — PhilHealth’s flagship Yaman sa Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) aims to shift healthcare from treating illnesses to preventing them before they become serious. </p><p>To make that happen, the state health insurer says it will no longer wait for Filipinos to sign up—it will actively bring the program to them. </p><p>In an interview with ABS-CBN News, PhilHealth President and CEO Dr. Beverly Ho said the agency wants every Filipino, who is already automatically covered by PhilHealth, to also be enrolled in its primary care program.</p><p>“That’s assuring them that someone is looking after them, taking care of them proactively. Hindi hinihintay na puntahan sila sa clinic kung may sakit na sila,” Ho said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/8/10/who-is-dr-beverly-ho-newly-appointed-philhealth-president-and-ceo-2220"><strong>Who is Dr. Beverly Ho, newly-appointed PhilHealth President and CEO? </strong></a> </div><p>To expand enrollment, PhilHealth plans to conduct group registrations in schools and workplaces, making it easier for students and employees to access preventive healthcare services.</p><p>“We&#x27;re working very closely on both the public health programs as well as scaling up YAKAP, particularly in schools and in workplaces. So talagang we will scale up group enrollment in these settings,” Ho said. </p><div><br/></div><div><strong>MENTAL HEALTH PART OF PREVENTIVE CARE</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Mental health is also a major focus of both PhilHealth and the Department of Health (DOH).</p><p>Health Secretary Edwin Mercado said the agency is integrating mental health promotion into school-based and community-based programs under YAKAP. While hotlines are available for those seeking help, he stressed that communities also need trained mental health workers who can provide support on the ground. </p><p>“Meron tayong mga hotlines kung saan pwedeng sumangguni. Pero mas importante, there are trained mental health community workers on the ground,” Mercado said.</p><p>Ho noted that PhilHealth already offers a mental health benefit package. However, she said expanding benefits alone is not enough, emphasizing the need to increase awareness and encourage more Filipinos to seek help early.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2026/8/20/doh-chief-edwin-mercado-eyes-more-accessible-digitally-connected-healthcare-system-1339"><strong>DOH chief Edwin Mercado eyes more accessible, digitally connected healthcare system </strong></a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>MORE PROVIDERS NEEDED</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>As PhilHealth expects more Filipinos to enroll in YAKAP, Ho acknowledged that the country also needs more accredited healthcare providers.</p><p>In some areas, she said, the main challenge is no longer convincing people to register but ensuring there are enough doctors, clinics, and health facilities accredited to provide YAKAP services.</p><p>“Kahit po nandyan yung mga benepisyo ng PhilHealth, kung wala naman pong provider na magpapa-accredit sa amin o masyadong konti yung providers, be it health workers or health facilities, wala rin pong mararamdaman yung mga taong bayan,” she said.</p><p>Addressing this gap will require close coordination with the DOH, which is responsible for licensing health facilities, training healthcare workers, and setting healthcare standards.</p><p>Mercado said the health department is also working to strengthen patient navigation and referral systems so Filipinos can move more easily from one level of care to another when needed.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2026/7/28/philhealth-adds-benefits-for-developmental-disabilities-as-ph-sees-more-patients-with-special-needs-1459"><strong>PhilHealth adds benefits for developmental disabilities as PH sees more patients with special needs</strong></a></div><p>“Yung pag-progress din, yung tinatawag nating patient navigation o yung care coordination, ay napaka-importante din. Kasi yun yung isa ring aspetong gusto naming tutukan. Isa rin tinitingnan namin na yung inter-referral system ay maayos. At doon din namin pagbabasihan ano yung mga gamit at ano yung mga kailangang facilities na maaaring kulang pa sa isang lugar,” he said.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5CRrN7pH8uA?&amp;pp=0gcJCRMMAYcqIYzv&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>MOR BENEFIT PACKAGES IN PIPELINE</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Despite the rollout of several new and expanded PhilHealth benefits in recent months, the agency says more packages were on the way.</p><p>Mercado said PhilHealth was developing benefit packages for rare diseases, which often receive limited financial support. The agency is also working on expanding cancer benefits following the launch of packages for<a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2026/3/10/early-screening-for-colorectal-cancer-can-save-lives-experts-say-1831"> cancer screening.</a></p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/health-science/2026/3/10/early-screening-for-colorectal-cancer-can-save-lives-experts-say-1831">Early screening for colorectal cancer can save lives, experts say</a></div><p>“Marami ring gustong i-transition from case rates to Z benefits. Kasi mas malaki din yung coverage nun for the catastrophic. So definitely that&#x27;s in the pipeline,” Ho said.</p><p>Both PhilHealth and the DOH say they want to transform the country&#x27;s healthcare system from one that mainly treats illness to one that prevents disease before it develops.</p><p>But officials acknowledge that achieving this goal will require more than new policies and benefit packages. It will also depend on Filipinos taking advantage of preventive healthcare services by visiting health centers regularly, consulting doctors even before symptoms appear, and following medical advice to reduce their risk of disease. </p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/icctA1LgB-c?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LBRDPrPygHQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>PhilHealth’s flagship Yaman sa Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) aims to shift healthcare from treating illnesses to preventing them before they become serious.</p>

PhilHealth’s flagship Yaman sa Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) aims to shift healthcare from treating illnesses to preventing them before they become serious.

PhilHealth’s Yakap program to go to schools, workplaces to encourage public to register

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PhilHealth’s Yakap program to go to schools, workplaces to encourage public to register

Raphael Bosano,

ABS-CBN News

Published August 21, 2026 04:11 PM PHT

Read More:

Department of Health

PhilHealth

Dr. Beverly Ho

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