The Department of Health (DOH) has included 30 last-mile schools in Antique in the expansion of the Healthy Learning Institutions (HLI) program implemented in partnership with the Department of Education (DepEd).

Shiela Mae Boston, DepEd Schools Division of Antique HLI coordinator, said in an interview Thursday that a three-day capacity-building workshop starting Tuesday for the first batch of participants from 15 schools aimed to prepare them for the implementation of the program and pave the way for the second batch on Sept. 10-13.

“We are now having a capacity-building (training) for the 30 school heads and 30 personnel in preparation for their schools becoming HLI,” she said.

The participants learned how to manage and conduct the proper referral of learners with mental health issues to their rural health units (RHUs) and adopt school policies as prevention against illegal drug use and smoking.

“We aim for the learners to be free, healthy, and safe,” she said.

She said the last-mile schools are in the municipalities of Tobias Fornier, San Remigio, Hamtic, Bugasong, and Pandan.

The schools have makeshift classrooms with no electricity. They only have three to four personnel and can hardly access government services.

Boston said 23 schools during the implementation of the HLI in Antique are set to receive PHP10 million in funds from the DOH.

The funds are for the rehabilitation of their teen centers, hygiene kits, music instruments, and other equipment needed to maintain the physical and mental health of the learners.

“We are also hopeful that these schools under the program expansion could also be given funding by the DOH,” she said. (PNA)