The YAKAP Program is PhilHealth’s expanded primary care package that replaces and improves the previous Konsulta program. It provides PhilHealth members and their dependents with accessible and comprehensive outpatient healthcare services.
In Iloilo City, the program is implemented in line with the Universal Health Care (UHC) Act or Republic Act No. 11223, which aims to ensure equal access to quality and affordable healthcare for all Filipinos.
According to data from the City Health Office (CHO), 15,569 beneficiaries and dependents have registered under the program as of 2025, while 3,990 have already availed themselves of healthcare services through their first patient encounter.
Under YAKAP, beneficiaries can access free consultations, essential laboratory tests, and outpatient medicines, including maintenance medications worth up to ₱20,000 annually through the Guaranteed Access to Medicines (GAMOT) benefit.
The program is further supported by the city’s free medicine initiative in pharmacies located across the nine district health centers, where patients can also receive essential medicines at no cost.
“Sang una mangita pa’ko kon diin ko manghulam, subong ya, libre na ang bulong.”
This was the heartfelt statement of Jocelyn Facto of Molo District, a beneficiary of the PhilHealth YAKAP (Yaman ng Kalusugan Program), as she expressed her gratitude to the Iloilo City Government through Mayor Raisa Treñas. Facto is among the nearly 4,000 Ilonggos who have benefited from the program in 2025, implemented by the city government through the City Health Office (CHO) and the city’s accredited District Health Centers.
Mayor Treñas also shared another piece of good news regarding the upcoming opening of the city’s own Clinical Laboratory and Diagnostic Center later this year.
“This is part of our commitment to bring faster and more accurate diagnostic services closer sa aton mga pumuluyong Ilonggo— especially when it comes to early detection and preventive care. Paagi sa pagpabaskog sang aton health systems, masiguro naton nga ang aton health services magapabilin ngaaccessible kag dekalidad para sa tanan,” the city mayor said.
CHO Asst Dept Head Dr. Jennifer Castro said this initiative helps reduce the financial burden of healthcare, especially among vulnerable and underserved sectors, while encouraging early detection and continuous management of diseases.
It is implemented through the collaboration of PhilHealth, the Department of Health (DOH), the Iloilo City Government, Western Visayas Medical Center (WVMC), and PhilHealth-accredited healthcare providers. To further improve service delivery, the city government continues to upgrade and license healthcare facilities while strengthening referral systems through partnerships with higher-level healthcare institutions, including a memorandum of agreement with WVMC for specialized care and referrals. (Iloilo City PIO)