October 13, 2025
Scholars, medical assistance beneficiaries avail of benefits from Philhealth’s YAKAP
By Joy Rojas
To make basic healthcare services and medicines more accessible to its scholars and medical assistance beneficiaries, Tzu Chi Foundation invited representatives from the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (Philhealth) and Chinese Genera Hospital and Medical Center (CGHMC) in a joint gathering of Humanity Classes and Charity Day on October 12 at Buddhist Tzu Chi Campus (BTCC) in Sta. Mesa, Manila.
One hundred twenty medical assistance beneficiaries and two hundred fifty-nine scholars attended the event.
Philhealth, which provides Filipino members and their dependents with accessible, available, and affordable health insurance coverage, assisted scholars and medical assistance beneficiaries in availing of YAKAP (Yaman ng Kalusugan Program), its enhanced primary care benefit package. Formerly known as E-Konsulta, YAKAP entitles Philhealth’s members and their dependents to free primary care consultations, 54 prescribed medicines of up to P20,000 annually, and free basic laboratory and screening tests, including certain screening tests for breast, lung, liver, and colon cancers.
“We want to change the idea that PhilHealth is only for someone who gets sick,” says Sheryl Esteban, head of the marketing and communications team of Philhealth’s National Capital Region North Branch. “With PhilHealth’s YAKAP, we want to be able to prevent illnesses because our health is important. PhilHealth YAKAP promotes early detection of diseases, effective treatment, and continuity of care.”
As one of over 3,800 accredited YAKAP health facilities in the country, Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center was at the gathering to extend YAKAP benefits to Tzu Chi’s Philhealth members.
“When people get sick, it's a long journey for them, and especially for their families,” says Dr. Bryan Ong Kian Koc, ophthalmologist at CGHMC. “It's good that PhilHealth can provide primary health care to these patients so they can protect the family, not just the patient, from further financial distress.”
“Our diseases have advanced,” he adds. “This is why there has been a shift in care, a paradigm shift in PhilHealth. From an institution that caters to treatment, it has shifted to preventing diseases. When you prevent diseases, chances are, the patient can return to work, be more productive, and improve their quality of life.”
That’s exactly what happened to Richard Lumbera. Aware of his heart condition since his teen years, he remained asymptomatic until his 40s, when his lips turned purple and doing simple tasks left him short of breath.
In August 2022, he underwent mitral and aortic valve replacements via open-heart surgery at the Philippine Heart Center (PHC). Despite his new mechanical valves, his heart function remained low, so in September 2025, doctors at PHC fitted him with an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator (ICD), a device that delivers electric shocks to correct life-threatening irregular heartbeats. It also revives a patient in the event that their heart stops working.
Lumbera, who works in an electronic gadgets store, is beyond grateful to Tzu Chi for covering a majority of the costs of his two expensive procedures. Any payments he had to settle himself were significantly less, thanks to Philhealth’s deductions.
“It’s good,” he says of the government’s national health insurance agency. “You just have to be a member and make sure you’re updated with your payments.”
And while he knows Tzu Chi has no expectations of him other than to see him get better, Lumbera is moved to reciprocate the kindness and generosity he received. Still sporting a gauze and tape where the ICD was installed, and a sling on his left arm to limit its range of motion until he heals, he says, “Once I feel okay, my plan is to return the help. Any way I can help Tzu Chi, I’ll do it.”
The event also included a talk by Tzu Chi volunteer Johnny Kwok on his years doing relief work, success stories shared by Tzu Chi scholar alumna Kristine Joyce Balabag, RSW, and medical assistance beneficiary Gloria Espinosa, the turnover of donations for victims of the recent quake in Cebu, and the distribution of prescription medication (for medical assistance beneficiaries), and two 10-kg sacks of rice and assorted grocery items for all attendees.
The next Quarterly Charity Day is on December 14.
DSWD Solicitation Permit No.: DSWD-SB-PSP-S-2025-000072
October 12’s joint gathering of Humanity classes for scholars and Charity Day for medical assistance beneficiaries was attended by 120 medical assistance beneficiaries and 259 scholars.
A regular of Tzu Chi relief operations, volunteer Johnny Kwok shares stories on the foundation’s recent distribution efforts in Tuguegarao for Typhoon Nando and Cebu for the magnitude 6.9 earthquake.
Kristine Joyce Balabag narrates her success story from Tzu Chi scholar to registered social worker.
Medical assistance beneficiary Gloria Espinosa explains how Tzu Chi helped her get a much-needed angioplasty for three blocked arteries.
Before the start of the event, representatives from Philhealth tour Buddhist Tzu Chi Campus.
Medical assistance beneficiaries fill up forms to avail of Philhealth’s YAKAP, its enhanced primary care benefit package.
Philhealth officers process the documents of Tzu Chi’s medical assistance beneficiaries.
“PhilHealth YAKAP promotes early detection of diseases, effective treatment, and continuity of care,” says Sheryl Esteban, head of the marketing and communications team of Philhealth’s National Capital Region North Branch.
Attendees were also able to avail of prescriptions, referrals, and vital signs monitoring provided by doctors of Chinese General Hospital and Medical Center, one of over 3,800 accredited YAKAP health facilities in the country.
Richard Lumbera (in sling), who underwent costly open-heart surgery to replace two heart valves in August 2022, and the placement of an Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator in September 2025, all through the generosity of Tzu Chi, avails of YAKAP benefits from CGHMC’s Dr. Dr. Bryan Ong Kian Koc. “PhilHealth has shifted from an institution that caters to treatment, it has shifted to preventing diseases,” says Dr. Ong Kian Koc.
October birthday celebrants were recognized at the joint gathering of Humanity classes and Charity Day.
The event was capped with the turnover of donations for victims of the recent magnitude 6.9 quake in Cebu.
The event was capped with the turnover of donations for victims of the recent magnitude 6.9 quake in Cebu.
The event was capped with the turnover of donations for victims of the recent magnitude 6.9 quake in Cebu.
Help Cebu rise up from this disaster. Send your donations through the QR code and bank details provided here.