President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Education Secretary Sonny Angara spearheaded the rollout of the YAKAP health caravan at Kawmpang Elementary School in Patikul, Sulu, bringing direct medical and health services to over 1,600 young learners, parents, and school personnel.
Learners, and staff from Martirez Elementary School in Jolo also participated in the caravan, benefiting from the comprehensive health offerings.
The health rollout took place alongside a major milestone in basic education governance: the formal integration of the Schools Division Office (SDO) of Sulu into the Department of Education (DepEd) Region IX (Zamboanga Peninsula).
“Sa pagdadala natin ng YAKAP health caravan dito sa Patikul at sa pormal na pagpapasailalim ng SDO Sulu sa DepEd Region IX, tinutupad natin ang utos ng Pangulo na magdala ng mabilis at direktang serbisyo habang pinapatibay ang suporta sa edukasyon sa buong lalawigan.”
Amid the ongoing administrative shift, President Marcos assured teachers of a smooth transition as Sulu moves from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) to Region IX. The President emphasized that current personnel will be absorbed into the new setup and that the government is coordinating with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to create additional plantilla positions so that all personnel are safely transitioned.
“Nais ko pong ipahayag na tinutukan ng pamahalaan ang maayos na paglipat ng Sulu mula sa BARMM patungo sa Region IX. Tinitiyak natin na ang ating mga guro ay patuloy na makakapaglingkod at maa-absorb sa bagong administrative na setup,” PresidentMarcos said during an earlier event for the inauguration of the Sulu Hall of Justice.
“Nakikipag-ugnayan din tayo sa DBM para sa paglikha ng karagdagang plantilla positions para matiyak na ang lahat ay makatawid at walang maiiwanan,” the President added.
Under the YAKAP School Health and Protection (YAKAP-SHP) Program, implemented through a joint inter-agency framework involving DepEd, the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), the caravan transforms schools into primary access points for essential learner and personnel welfare.
“Tulad ng laging paalala ni Pangulong Marcos, kailangang sabay nating pinangangalagaan ang kaisipan at kalusugan ng ating mga estudyante at guro,” Angara said. “Sa pagdadala natin ng YAKAP health caravan dito sa Patikul at sa pormal na pagpapasailalim ng SDO Sulu sa DepEd Region IX, tinutupad natin ang utos ng Pangulo na magdala ng mabilis at direktang serbisyo habang pinapatibay ang suporta sa edukasyon sa buong lalawigan.”
Learners and personnel received medical check-ups and primary care consultations for general health assessments and early detection of health conditions. Dental services, vision screenings, and mental health screenings were also provided along with PhilHealth registration, record updates, ID issuance, and health orientations. Essential medicines were dispensed on-site free of charge to help reduce out-of-pocket medical expenses for families.
Secretary Angara directed the DepEd Region IX to oversee the recruitment, selection, and appointment process, with priority given to qualified personnel currently serving under the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) in Sulu, subject to Civil Service Commission rules.
The visit follows the official approval by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) creating SDO Sulu and its corresponding staffing complement of 84 non-teaching plantilla positions.
The establishment of the division office, comprising the Office of the Schools Division Superintendent (OSDS), the Curriculum Implementation Division (CID), and the School Governance and Operations Division (SGOD), implements Executive Order No. 91, s. 2025, which integrated the Province of Sulu into Region IX following its exclusion from the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Secretary Angara directed the DepEd Region IX to oversee the recruitment, selection, and appointment process, with priority given to qualified personnel currently serving under the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE) in Sulu, subject to Civil Service Commission rules.
Meanwhile, DepEd in partnership with the Sulu provincial government will build new modern school buildings for Kawmpang Elementary School. The brand-new school building complex that will rise behind the Sulu Provincial Capitol will feature three two-storey buildings equipped with 10 classrooms each, providing a total of 30 modern classrooms.
