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COTABATO CITY — The Ministry of Basic, Higher and Technical Education (MBHTE), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Local Government Unit through the Health and Nutrition Unit, officially launched the Regional Learners’ Health Assessment and Screening (LHAS) Program alongside the 51st Nutrition Month Celebration on July 2, 2025, at Kabutoyen Elementary School (KES) in Upi, Maguindanao del Norte.
With the theme revolving around Food at Nutrition Security, Maging Priority! Sapat na Pagkain, Karapatan Natin!, the joint celebration emphasized the importance of accessible and adequate nutrition as a fundamental right, especially for school-aged children. The event gathered learners, teachers, parents, health professionals, and local officials for a day of health-focused activities, including medical screenings, educational sessions, and nutrition advocacy.
As part of the launch, 210 learners from Kindergarten to Grade 1 from Kapilit Elementary School, Blensong Elementary School, F. Besas Elementary School, and KES received free health services under the LHAS Program.
These services included nutritional assessments, vision and hearing screening, dental evaluations, physical and mental health checks, and health history intake. The initiative also promoted PhilHealth registration and encouraged parent engagement to ensure holistic care and early identification of health concerns.
A region-wide initiative, the LHAS Program was designed to provide yearly health checkups for all learners in Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). It reflects MBHTE’s continued commitment to inclusive, learner-centered education that supports the total well-being of every Bangsamoro child and ensuring no learner is left behind.
The event was attended by MBHTE officials, including Bureau Director for Basic Education Johnny Balawag, Bureau Director for Indigenous Peoples Education Judith Caubalejo, and Schools Division Superintendent of Maguindanao del Norte Alma Abdula-Nor; along with officials from the Ministry of Health, including Chief of the Nutrition Division Celia C. Sagaral, the Health and Nutrition Team, and other key officials.
The Bangsamoro region, established in 2018 by the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) to implement the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB), is made up of the provinces of Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Sur, Maguindanao del Norte, and Tawi-Tawi, the cities of Cotabato, Lamitan, and Marawi, as well as the Special Geographic Area’s (SGA) 63 barangays or villages — now eight new municipalities — that voted “Yes” in a plebiscite in February 2019 to be under the BARMM jurisdiction.
According to the Philippine Atlas BARMM has 4,404,288 people. It has 116 municipalities: Basilan, 11 municipalities; Lanao del Sur, 39; undivided Maguindanao, 36; Sulu, 19; and Tawi-Tawi, 11. Its component cities are Cotabato (the regional center and capital) in Maguindanao; Lamitan in Basilan; and Marawi in Lanao del Sur. (✓)