Following the national launch of the Philippine Health (PhilHealth) Insurance Corporation’s “Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP)” by current President Ferdinand ‘Bong-Bong’ Marcos Jr., the Provincial Government of Nueva Vizcaya convened on July 28, 2025, at the Paniqui Hall, Executive Building, Capitol Compound, to conduct an Assessment on the Status of the Implementation of PhilHealth KONSULTA and Out-Patient Drug Benefit Package in Nueva Vizcaya and Action Planning. Representatives from PhilHealth were in attendance to disseminate the necessary information for the provincial government.
Provincial Planning and Development Coordinator Engr. Edgardo Sabado presided over the meeting, which was duly attended by Acting Provincial Administrator Jovito Celestino, Budget Officer Virginia Iglesias, Provincial Accountant Rhoda Moreno, and Provincial Health Officer Dr. Anthony Cortez with other representatives from the healthcare center of the province.
In his formal opening of the meeting, Engr. Sabado spoke of Governor Atty. Jose V. Gambito’s ardent support for greater healthcare within the province, expressing intentions in his inaugural address to bolster accessibility of these services to even the farthest and most indigent residents within Nueva Vizcaya. The announcement of the YAKAP by PhilHealth would have the potential for partnership with the Governor’s own flagship project, the Wellness Caravan ti Umili, and fulfillment of the healthcare for all goal moving forward.
The meeting included presentations by the PhilHealth representatives on the YAKAP, a natural progression of PhilHealth’s previous Konsultasyong Sulit at Tama (KONSULTA) program, its relevance to those with PhilHealth insurance, and the current strides toward Universal Healthcare. Joseph Reyes, Provincial Manager for PhilHealth, presented on the legal basis of KONSULTA and YAKAP, the increases in inpatient benefits from 2024 to the present, the procedures of availing, and other related topics. Mr. Reyes emphasized that according to Republic Act 11223, or the Universal Healthcare Act, all Filipinos are granted immediate eligibility and access to all kinds of healthcare.
The presentation on Universal Healthcare also included not just the ways forward but the current difficulties in implementation, one of which is the undersupply of physicians and other licensed medical workers. One possible solution raised was the Governor’s flagship project “Doktor ti Umili”, which is in its early stages and had so far produced one scholar. It was confirmed that eventual graduates from Governor Gambito’s Doktor ti Umili project would be employed at provincial hospitals as part of the program’s conditions.
The discussion centered around both general and specific logistics on implementation, with the present department heads weighing in on past, present, and future obstacles in implementation. The PhilHealth representatives were on hand to address various concerns from the attending body on data privacy, recordkeeping, accreditation, etc. It was unanimously agreed upon that accreditation for hospitals is a must, with Dr. Cortez urging the provincial hospitals representatives to take the initiative without need for a memorandum. While it was clarified that all current PhilHealth subscribers were automatically eligible for YAKAP, the concerns of accessibility for indigent residents in far-flung areas were also raised and discussed, with one solution being another of the Governor’s flagship projects providing access to the eGovPh application, a more convenient alternative.
With intentions for further action planning set, and further reporting required on the part of the provincial government and select municipal governments, Governor Atty. Jose V. Gambito’s own actions with the provincial government, and PhilHealth with the national government, may yet realize the vision of accessible healthcare for all in Nueva Vizcaya. /igmb
[This article was initially created on Facebook – Vizcaya Reporter. For PLGU-Nueva Vizcaya updates, visit: https://www.facebook.com/vizcayareporter]
