Calamba city: The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) have rolled out the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) in Laguna to make primary health services more accessible to workers.

According to Philippines News Agency, the program was launched on Tuesday at Yazaki-Torres Manufacturing Inc. in Calamba City, led by DOLE Secretary Bienvenido Laguesma and PhilHealth Acting President and CEO Edwin Mercado. With the tagline 'Malayo ka sa Sakit,' YAKAP encourages employees to seek preventive health consultations even without existing symptoms. This initiative aligns with the government's Universal Health Care (UHC) agenda, a priority program of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s administration.

PhilHealth Acting President Mercado emphasized that the program is part of a settings-based registration approach, where PhilHealth brings services directly to offices, schools, or communities. He noted that the primary goal is to expand coverage and make services faster and more accessible, while also strengthening the quality of care.

DOLE Secretary Laguesma remarked that health is the foundation of a strong and productive workforce, highlighting that Filipino workers spend a significant portion of their lives at work, yet many lack sufficient access to health services. Through YAKAP, both DOLE and PhilHealth are committed to ensuring that workers have access to quality health services.