EXPANDING access to basic healthcare, the Department of Education (DepEd) on Monday conducted a nationwide school-based health drive across 91 public school campuses.

The initiative is expected to provide primary healthcare services to around 47,600 beneficiaries as part of the multi-agency Handog ng Pangulo service caravan.

Conducted in partnership with the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), the simultaneous school-based Yaman ng Kalusugan Program activated 91 participating public schools across 85 cities and provinces, transforming the campuses into primary healthcare hubs.

According to DepEd, the initiative aims to serve around 22,000 teachers, 18,700 learners, 6,000 parents and guardians, and 900 non-teaching personnel.

“Sa direksyon ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos, patuloy nating inilalapit ang mga batayang serbisyo ng pamahalaan sa ating mga kababayan,” Education Secretary Sonny Angara said.

“Sa pamamagitan ng ating pakikipagtulungan sa PhilHealth at iba pang ahensya sa Handog ng Pangulo, sinisiguro natin na ang ating mga guro, mag-aaral, at kanilang mga pamilya ay may access sa libre at de-kalidad na pangangalagang pangkalusugan.”

DepEd also participated in the Handog ng Pangulo activity at the Kalinga Sports Center, together with partner agencies, including the Department of Health, Philippine Statistics Authority, and PhilHealth.