DepEd, DOH expand healthy learning program to 1,500 public schools
The HLI initiative, launched in 2022, supports schools in improving sanitation facilities, strengthening nutrition and mental health services, and enhancing learner well-being.
Backed by a joint administrative order signed by seven agencies, including DepEd, DOH, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), and the Legal Education Board (LEB), the program brings to life the Universal Health Care Act's vision of schools as healthy settings for children and adolescents.
A major focus of the initiative has been on so-called 'Last Mile Schools,' or institutions in geographically isolated or underserved communities.
According to the education department, over 1,300 of the participating schools fall under this category, receiving direct support for improvements ranging from hygiene facilities to health training.
One such school is Taguiporo Elementary School in Bantay, Ilocos Sur. Previously struggling with poor sanitation and limited services, it has since been recognized as one of the 38 Outstanding Last Mile Schools after receiving a P100,000 grant.
The funds were used to build gender-sensitive, PWD-accessible toilets; expand feeding and dental programs; and start a backyard garden that now feeds students and their families.
The HLI program is structured around six pillars of school health and well-being, assessed using a self-appraisal system.
In 2024, DepEd launched a three-tier recognition framework certifying schools as Satisfactory, Very Satisfactory, or Outstanding based on compliance with health standards developed with WHO guidance and local policy.
To further strengthen implementation, national onboarding sessions for school heads and health officers are scheduled for July 14–15.
DepEd is also rolling out a School Self-Appraisal Checklist and a shared 'Map of Materials' to support health promotion in campuses.
Although the program is currently operating under interim guidelines, DepEd is preparing a department order to institutionalize the HLI framework.
This upcoming policy will embed the star-rating system into the agency's Learner Support Framework and make health promotion a sustained part of school operations.
'Hindi lang dapat ligtas sa sakuna ang paaralan. Dapat ligtas din sa gutom, sa sakit, at sa kawalan ng suporta,' said Education Secretary Sonny Angara.
(Schools should not only be safe from disasters but also free from hunger, illness, and lack of support.) —VBL, GMA Integrated News
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
GMA Network
3 days ago
- GMA Network
DOH: Over 1K health workers deployed to aid flood victims
The Department of Health (DOH) said it has deployed over 1,000 medical personnel in health centers nationwide to assist flood victims. At the same time, it said several government hospitals have been readied to increase their capacity to accommodate patients needing medical attention. In a public briefing on Thursday, DOH spokesperson Assistant Secretary Albert Domingo said a total of 1,184 doctors and nurses are ready, especially in areas hit by floods from the inclement weather. 'Naka-standby naman po at ready ang ating mga doktor at nurse sa ating mga health centers… Ito po yung mga doktor at mga nurse na naka-deploy sa Ilocos, sa Central Luzon, sa MIMAROPA, sa Bicol at sa Metro Manila. Maaring mas mataas po ang numero dahil ito pa lamang po yung dumadating sa amin ng preliminary numbers,' he shared. (Our doctors and nurses are ready and on standby in our health centers… These are the doctors and nurses deployed in Ilocos, Central Luzon, MIMAROPA, Bicol, and Metro Manila. The numbers may possibly increase because these are just the preliminary numbers that we got.) Domingo said health workers on duty are also receiving adequate care. 'Sinisigurado po ng ating kagawaran ng DOH ang proper rotation ng personnel. Mayroon kaming proper working hours and rotation, pinapahinga rin po natin para dun sa mga hospital na malalaki meron po mga dormitory, may mga tulugan na malinis kapag naka-off-duty ang mga health workers… Sila po ay pwedeng magpahinga, pinapakain po ng husto, pinapatulog, para nakakapahinga po, para ready again pagdating ng kanilang duty shift,' he shared. (The DOH is ensuring proper rotation of personnel. We have proper working hours and rotation, and are ensuring that there are dormitories in big hospitals for them to rest… They are also allowed to rest, eat properly, sleep, so that they are well-rested for their duty shift.) 'Hindi lamang po yung pasyente yung kailangang alagaan, yung mismong mga gumagamot po ay kailangang alagaan rin. Kasama rin po naman yan sa training naming mga doktor,' he added. (We take care of our personnel who attend to patients. That is also part of our training as doctors.) Meanwhile, Domingo said several hospitals have increased their bed capacity to attend to more patients. 'Kunwari po kung dati ay hanggang 100 beds lang ang hospital, meron po yung allowance na pwede nga tumaas by 10% or 20% additional beds, depende po sa layout ng hospital,' he shared. (Fo example, a hospital's 100-bed capacity can increase by 10 to 20 percent, depending on its layout.) Earlier, the DOH said it has deployed P31 million worth of emergency medicine nationwide, with an additional P180 million worth of medicine on standby for deployment. DOH also announced a price freeze for 148 types of medicine in 40 areas under a state of calamity amid the combined effects of cyclones Crising, Dante, Emong, and the Southwest Monsoon. —LDF, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
4 days ago
- GMA Network
DOH: Price freeze for 148 medicines in areas under state of calamity
The Department of Health (DOH) on Thursday announced a price freeze for a total of 148 medicines in areas under a state of calamity. Consumers are encouraged to report overpriced medicine to the DOH Hotline ((02) 8651-7800), and the DTI Hotline (1384). As of Thursday, 40 areas have declared a state of calamity due to the effects of tropical cyclones Crising, Dante, and Emong, as well as the Southwest Monsoon, or Habagat. Under the Price Act, a 60-day automatic price freeze is implemented when a state of calamity is declared, covering goods such as rice, corn, bread, fresh vegetables, root crops, pork, beef, poultry, eggs, milk, coffee, sugar, cooking oil, salt, laundry soap, detergent, firewood, charcoal, candles, and certain medicines classified as essential by the DOH. —Jiselle Anne Casucian/VBL, GMA Integrated News
GMA Network
5 days ago
- GMA Network
DOH visits evacuation centers in Las Piñas, Pasig
The Department of Health (DOH) conducted an inspection of evacuation centers in the cities of Las Piñas and Pasig on Wednesday. Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa personally visited two schools serving as evacuation centers in flood-prone areas around the metropolis. Herbosa first visited the Zapote Elementary School in Las Piñas, which currently houses 371 evacuees or 133 families. Herbosa, along with Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian at Las Piñas City Mayor April Aguilar, handed out food packs for the evacuees. The DOH assured the evacuees have adequate medical supply and support from medical personnel as 1,250 tablets of Doxycycline, paracetamol, insulin, vitamin C, and hypertension maintenance medication were turned over to the evacuation center. Afterwards, Herbosa and Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto visited the Rosario Elementary School to check 930 individuals or 290 families who were evacuated. The DOH also looked into the center's medical personnel, medicine supply, child-friendly and mental health spaces, nutrition plan, micronutrient supplements, and breastfeeding covers. Herbosa also went to the East Avenue Medical Center to check the health workers and patients in the hospital. On Tuesday, Herbosa also visited evacuation centers in Marikina City to inspect its facilities. — Jiselle Anne Casucian/RF, GMA Integrated News
