CEBU CITY – The Department of Labor and Employment and PhilHealth have launched the “Yaman ng Kalusugan Program” (YAKAP) for the employed sector in Central Visayas on September 16 in Cebu City.
More than 200 employees and employer representatives from Mactan Export Processing Zone (MEPZ) and PhilHealth-accredited private YAKAP Clinics – Clinica Prime and The Hospital at Maayo joined the launch.
“PhilHealth YAKAP is our embrace to every Filipino worker, every family, and every community. It is a promise that in times of sickness, every Filipino will feel the embrace of PhilHealth and its partners,” said Dr. Maria Eliza Batucan, Chief of PRO VII Health Care Delivery Management Division.
DOLE-7 Regional Director Roy Buenafe, on the other hand, described the initiative as “a dream come true for employers” to utilize their monthly premium contributions and feel the government-initiated programs for its citizens.
“With this program, our employees and their families will have greater protection, security, and care. We commend PhilHealth for this meaningful cause,” said Matluster Corporation General Manager Rosario Canillo, representing the Employed Sector.
Clinica Prime President and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Bryan Albert Lim acknowledged how YAKAP directly changes lives.
“Those patients with hypertension and diabetes who used to skip buying their medicines can now take them. We have truly seen how vital PhilHealth and primary care are,” he said.
Meanwhile, The Hospital at Maayo Chief Administrator Dr. Faye Abigail Fortich affirmed YAKAP as a significant step in healthcare: “When we come together, both public and private institutions, we create more than just access, we create impact.”
