Tacloban Expands Health Program for Students in Remote Barangays

Posted on Feb. 15, 2026 at 4:03 pm

TACLOBAN CITY — The Tacloban City government is enhancing its Kaagapay and Yakap Program to improve the health and hygiene of students in remote barangays, ensuring that children in far‑flung areas receive proper monitoring, nutrition support, and preventive care services.

Tacloban City, an urbanized city in Eastern Visayas with 138 barangays spread across urban and rural areas, has numerous communities that are geographically distant from the city center, posing challenges in accessing health services for many students.

Rizza Diliva, the program’s focal nurse of the Kaagapay and Yakap Program of Tacloban City Division, stated in an interview with The Vanguard on Feb. 9 that the initiative gives priority to  students from schools in remote barangays as well as those in the city proper.

“The Kaagapay and Yakap Program focuses on students in far‑flung barangays to prevent malnutrition and other common health concerns, while promoting proper hygiene and wellness,” Diliva said. Schools in distant areas, such as those in rural clusters around the city, are specifically targeted to ensure equal access to essential health services.

Parents are encouraged to support the program’s advocacy by teaching their children proper hygiene practices at home, reinforcing healthy habits learned through school health activities.

The program is funded by the city government and implemented in collaboration with the Tacloban City Hospital, City Health Office, City Population Office, and ten local health centers throughout the city. Diliva highlighted that all services are provided free to students as part of the city’s commitment to community health and child welfare.

“Through Kaagapay and Yakap, we aim to cultivate clean, healthy, and well‑nourished student bodies across all barangays,” she said. The initiative includes regular health monitoring to detect and address issues such as malnutrition, which remains a significant concern in some communities.

City officials emphasized that the program reflects Tacloban’s continuous efforts to make health services accessible to all students, particularly those in remote areas, underscoring the importance of preventive care and community partnerships in promoting child health.

(Photos by Vanguard)