Bislig City has seven PhilHealth-accredited YAKAP facilities where members can get free primary care, and a PhilHealth officer used a city forum last month to push residents to start using them before they get sick.

The reminder came during the "Panagtigum" held on September 9, 2026 at the Bislig City Cultural and Sports Center. The gathering was organized by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) Caraga, through its Surigao del Sur Government Information Center, and the city's own City Information Office, according to a PIA report published on September 18.

The misconception PhilHealth wants to fix

Juliet A. Golez, chief social insurance officer of PhilHealth, told the forum that many members still believe their PhilHealth only works once they are admitted to a hospital.

"One of the most common misconceptions is that PhilHealth can only be used for inpatient services or when a person is already admitted to the hospital," Golez said, as quoted by PIA.

She pointed to the Yaman ng Kalusugan Program, or YAKAP, PhilHealth's primary care benefit. Under YAKAP, every member is assigned to a primary care provider regardless of membership status. "Many Filipinos die without ever consulting a doctor," she said.

What the seven Bislig facilities offer

Golez said Bislig City has seven accredited YAKAP facilities where qualified members can choose their preferred primary care provider. According to the PIA report, these facilities offer medical consultations, laboratory examinations, medicine dispensing and other primary care benefits covered by PhilHealth.

The point, she said, is early consultation, so that illnesses are caught before they become serious and expensive.

PIA's report did not name the seven facilities. Residents can ask at any PhilHealth office, at the City Health Office, or check PhilHealth's official list of accredited YAKAP providers to find the ones in Bislig.

How to get started

Based on PhilHealth's published guidance on YAKAP, the general steps are:

  1. Make sure you have a PhilHealth Identification Number (PIN). You can get one through the PhilHealth Member Portal or at a PhilHealth Local Health Insurance Office.
  2. Choose a YAKAP clinic as your primary care provider. Registration can be done through the eGovPH app, the PhilHealth Member Portal, a PhilHealth office, or at the clinic itself.
  3. Go to the clinic for your first patient encounter, where the clinic does a health assessment and you sign the slip that confirms you are enrolled with that provider.

Registration is free. Requirements and steps can change, so confirm the details with the clinic you choose.

Other services from the province

The Surigao del Sur Provincial Health Office also spoke at the forum. Provincial health officer Dr. Oscar de Jesus said patients, including those already discharged from hospitals, can get free services through the Malasakit Program. He also said the provincial office tests water samples for a minimal fee, which can help households and barangays check whether their water supply is safe.

Barangay information officers trained too

The same September 9 gathering doubled as an orientation for barangay information officers, according to a separate PIA report published on September 22. PIA Caraga regional head Venus L. Garcia led the session and urged the officers to verify information before sharing it, especially claims that affect public safety and government services. Participants also took a mobile journalism workshop run by PIA Caraga staff.

The idea, according to PIA, is for every barangay to have someone residents can approach for reliable information about programs like YAKAP.

Sources: Philippine Information Agency Caraga reports by Nida Grace P. Barcena, published September 18 and September 22, 2026; PhilHealth advisories on the YAKAP program.