MANILA — The implementation of Healthy Learning Institutions (HLI) programs in Ilocos Sur will receive ₱11 million in funding from the Department of Health (DOH)-Ilocos Region.
This funding aims to support the effective, efficient, and equitable implementation of the Healthy Settings Program, specifically focusing on HLI in the province.
Regional Director Pula Paz M. Sydiongco announced the allocation of this fund during the HLI capacity building activity held from April 20-22, 2023 in San Juan, La Union.
The event was attended by members of the Department of Education (DepEd) Regional Office I and local government units of Ilocos Sur province.
The fund will be utilized for various HLI programs, including capacity building, action planning, monitoring and evaluation, as well as activities related to immunization, mental health, and comprehensive sexuality education/adolescent reproductive health.
Ilocos Sur has a significant number of public schools, particularly in Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDAs) and remote barangays, referred to as last mile elementary schools (LMES).
There are 206 identified LMES throughout the province, lacking sufficient classrooms, electricity, and funding for repairs or construction projects in the past four years.
The DOH aims to establish health promotion programs in these LMES, providing opportunities for population-based health interventions, age-appropriate health education, and the implementation of health-promoting policies.
These efforts aim to enhance the development of health literacy and promote healthy behaviors among Filipino learners.
HLIs are schools that prioritize the health and well-being of students and staff, aligning with the six pillars of the DOH’s Health Promotion Framework Strategies (HPFS) Initiative. These pillars include healthy public policy, physical school environment, social school environment, links with the community, health skills and education, and access to health care.
Sydiongco emphasized the importance of creating health-promoting schools to ensure optimal school environments and prioritize the health and well-being of learners. By organizing and connecting all the crucial components that shape health, the establishment of health-promoting schools can be achieved.
The ₱11 million fund will be given to the provincial government of Ilocos Sur, which will lead the implementation of HLI programs in 30 identified LMES, in collaboration with the DepEd Schools Division Office and local government units.
(AI/MTVN)
