In some areas in the Philippines, access to healthcare remains a big challenge as most specialized care is mainly concentrated in major urban areas.
The Department of Education (DepEd) is bridging this gap by bringing the digital lifeline in most remote barangay of Mayantoc, Tarlac.
Education Secretary Juan Edgardo ‘Sonny’ Angara said that 279 indigenous learners of Labney Integrated School and their community, will no longer endure a grueling 24-kilometer journey across steep mountains just to see a doctor.
The DepEd recently joined the launch of the Assisted Video Consultation (AVC) Room at the school. Through the AVC, digital telehealth services will be delivered to ensure that upland learners and their families gain immediate access to medical consultations.
The introduction of this facility under Project GIDA (Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas), a collaborative initiative led by the UP Resilience Institute and the GIDA Initiative, bridges the gap between urban medical specialists and remote villages through Starlink internet connectivity and specialized telehealth equipment.
Technological innovation
Angara emphasized that marginalized sectors must benefit from modern technological innovation, in line with the commitment of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to uplift underserved areas.
‘Sa tulong ng teknolohiya, hindi na kailangang maglakbay ng malayo ang ating mga mag-aaral para lamang makita ng doktor, dahil ang kalinga ng pamahalaan ay narito na mismo sa loob ng kanilang paaralan. [With the help of technology, our students no longer need to travel far just to see a doctor, because government care is now right here within their school],’ Angara said.
Equipped with the school’s Starlink satellite internet, a television, digital tablets and specialized medical software, the AVC Room now serves as a community-based healthcare hub. It directly addresses the severe distance barriers that frequently deter families from seeking timely medical attention.
School Principal Michelle Felipe said the introduction of telemedicine brings professional, free consultations straight to the community, sparing residents from costly and arduous travels down the mountain.
‘Through this telemedicine, kung halimbawa may emergency at kailangan na ng consultation biglaan, i-turn on mo lang yung gadget and then pwede mo na kausapin yung doktor na pwedeng mag-assist [Through this telemedicine, for example, if there is an emergency and a consultation is needed suddenly, you just turn on the gadget and then you can talk to the doctor who can assist],’ Felipe said.
Protects educationFor the learners, the facility does more than heal physical ailments; it protects their education.
Learner Lorie Nicolas recalled the anxiety of falling ill, noting that she had to choose between nursing her sickness at home or missing critical school discussions because there was no available transportation for a medical check-up.
‘Thankful po kami kasi yung mga expert na doktor na po ang lumalapit sa amin. Hindi na po namin kailangan pumunta sa baba for check-up po. Yung mga walang sasakyan, pwede na po nilang lakarin lang dito po sa school [We are thankful because expert doctors are now coming to us. We no longer need to go far for check-ups. Those who don’t have a car can just walk here to the school],’ Nicolas said.
Parents likewise shared their relief after a lifetime of enduring the hardships caused by the extreme distance to health facilities.
According to guardian Imelda Francisco, ‘Kahit hindi na kami pupunta sa bayan, makakausap na namin yung doktor na tumingin sa amin [Even though we won’t be going to town anymore, we can talk to the doctor who looked at us].’
Through these developments, DepEd continues to strengthen school-based health programs to safeguard the physical and mental well-being of learners and school communities.