YAKAP, GAMOT for better health

By Herbert Vego

LITERALLY, the Filipino words “yakap” (embrace) and “gamot” (medicine) augur well for our good health and longevity. It is said that a tight embrace produces brain chemicals that make the person being embraced feel loved.

We all know that medicine is aimed at restoring the health of the sick.

Whoever thought of these appropriate acronyms — YAKAP (Yaman ng Kalusugan Program) and GAMOT (Guaranteed Accessible Medications for Outpatient Treatment) — hit the nail on the head.

These are among the most talked-about programs that the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth) has rolled out to shift its focus from mere hospital treatments to aggressive preventive medicine and extensive catastrophic illness coverage.

As host of the “teleradyo” program “Reklamo Publiko” on Radyo Merkado, I had the pleasure of interviewing two PhilHealth officials: Marjorie Alterado Cabrieto, PhilHealth regional vice president, and Janimhe Jalbuna, public affairs head.

To summarize, YAKAP offers PhilHealth members and their dependents free access to primary care services at accredited clinics with doctors, 75 essential medicines, laboratory tests, and screenings for certain cancer categories.

To avail yourselves of these services, please register under the PhilHealth Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) at a registered YAKAP clinic of your choice, where you may submit a doctor’s test request and undergo procedures with zero or minimal out-of-pocket costs.

GAMOT, on the other hand, is YAKAP’s component that entitles PhilHealth members to as much as PHP 20,000 worth of free medicines annually for infections, pulmonary diseases, diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart conditions, nervous system disorders, and other supportive therapies.

All ID-bearing PhilHealth members and their legal dependents (spouses and children) may join the YAKAP program.

Tara na, yakapin natin ang YAKAP.

-oOo-

SAY HELLO TO HAPPELLO

THERE’s a new New Zealand-based online directory and marketplace that is also available in Australia, the Cook Islands, and the Philippines.

It’s HAPPELLO, an online platform for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), freelancers, and marketplace sellers. It is now rolling out in the Philippines with a searchable business directory and integrated marketplace designed to make local businesses easier to find, connect with, and trust online.

I am happy to announce that its managing director, Ruby Jarumhum-Adger — an Ilongga from Cabatuan, Iloilo — is offering its pages free of charge to Filipinos with businesses and freelance services.

The platform allows businesses to create free profile pages that bring essential information together in one place, including business descriptions, contact details, operating hours, photos, and interactive map locations.

Happello is positioned as particularly useful for family-run stores, sari-sari stores, home bakers, food businesses, repair shops, tutors, salons, tradespeople, freelancers, professionals, online sellers, and home-based entrepreneurs that may not have the resources to build their own professional website or invest heavily in digital marketing.

The need for greater trust online has become increasingly important as a deterrent to consumer fraud.

One of Happello’s key features is its identity verification system, designed to help combat fake accounts, impersonation, and scams, and provide greater accountability between people doing business through the platform.

Sellers can respond to inquiries, provide additional information about products or services, share product photos, confirm availability, and discuss pickup or delivery arrangements directly with potential customers.

Happello is also introducing an Affiliate Program that allows eligible content creators, publishers, marketers, and community advocates to earn commissions by referring businesses and promoting the platform.

To reiterate, Filipino businesses can create a free business listing, while entrepreneurs and individuals can also sign up to become sellers on Happello. For details, please visit www.happello.com or create an account directly at https://www.happello.com/signup.