The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is urging all private establishments to consider excusing their employees who intend to register for the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (Yakap) of the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).
In its Labor Advisory No. 10-2026, DOLE stated that employers are encouraged to grant their workers reasonable time off to complete their registration for Yakap. The advisory reads: "Employers are strongly encouraged to grant reasonable time off or excused absence to employees who will register in the PhilHealth YAKAP Program at the PhilHealth Office."
In return, DOLE requested that employees who avail of the excused absence provide their employers with proper advance notice whenever practicable. The agency also suggested that employers consider holding onsite registration activities for Yakap within their workplaces to facilitate the process.
DOLE further called on employers to assist in promoting Yakap registration among all private sector workers by coordinating with PhilHealth for onsite registration activities. "To promote broader access to primary health care services, employers are hereby encouraged to coordinate with PhilHealth for the conduct of onsite registration activities within the workplace," the advisory noted.
Beyond organizing such activities, DOLE urged employers to provide necessary assistance to workers in completing their registration, including through online platforms such as the eGov app and PhilHealth Member Portal.
Yakap is an enhanced national primary care benefit package that offers comprehensive outpatient services to all PhilHealth members and their qualified dependents. Its goal is to reduce out-of-pocket health expenditures and prevent hospitalization through early detection, preventive care, and effective management of chronic conditions.
Under the Universal Health Care Act, all private sector employers are mandated to support and facilitate the registration of their workers under PhilHealth Yakap. DOLE has directed its regional offices to promote awareness of the importance and benefits of Yakap registration during labor inspections, technical advisory services, and other labor enforcement activities.
Regional offices have also been instructed to actively participate in nationwide information and advocacy campaigns to expand access to primary health care services. Additionally, they are tasked to coordinate with PhilHealth and refer workplaces with low Yakap registration rates for further action.
