President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday led the delivery of integrated health and nutrition services at a school in Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan, as part of his efforts to boost access to healthcare and address hunger among Filipino learners.
During his visit to Sta. Barbara Central School, Marcos inspected the three booths of the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) Caravan, a joint initiative of the Department of Education and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) that brings government health services closer to students, teachers and communities.
The YAKAP Caravan provided PhilHealth registration, identification card registration and member data updating, as well as medical and dental checkups and the distribution of vitamins and medicines.
The caravan benefited around 200 learners, parents and teachers at the school.
Marcos also observed the implementation of the School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) at the historic Gabaldon Building, where 50 severely wasted and undernourished Grade 2 to 6 learners received hot meals and nutrition packs produced by NutriDense.
For School Year 2026 to 2027, the SBFP targets 385 beneficiaries at Sta. Barbara Central School, including 183 learners identified as wasted or severely wasted.
Across Pangasinan, the program covers 552 public schools as part of government efforts to address malnutrition and improve learning outcomes.
In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro emphasized the importance of providing learners with adequate nutrition and access to healthcare so they can focus on their studies and perform better in school.
“Naninindigan ang Pangulo na walang puwang sa ating bansa ang gutom at malnutrisyon kaya naman patuloy ang pamahalaan sa pagtatrabaho upang tugunan ito sa pamamagitan ng mas pinalawak na school-based feeding programs (The President maintains that there is no room for hunger and malnutrition in the country. Thus, the government continues to work to address these concerns through expanded school-based feeding programs),” she said.
During the visit, Marcos also inspected the Elpidio M. Balolong Science Room, observed a class, and interacted with the Grade 5-Citrine students.
An estimated 1,300 crowd, composed of teachers, students and parents welcomed the President.
As part of Marcos’s visit, around 1,194 school bags donated by the Office of the President were distributed to the learners. (PNA)