Baguio: An 84-year-old senior citizen, job seekers, workers, and even pet owners were among those who benefited from the government's 'Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat' service caravan here Monday.
According to Philippines News Agency, Lucita Fallarme, 84, expressed her happiness after accessing various health services provided at the Department of Health-led caravan at SM City Baguio. "Masaya ako. I like this, gusto ko ito na nangyayari. Nakaka-uplift sa senior. Gusto ko itong project ni Pangulong Marcos (I am happy, I like what is happening... this project of President Marcos uplifts the senior citizens)," Fallarme said. She took advantage of nutrition counseling, health-risk assessment, body mass index measurement, vaccination, and received free medicines and vitamins. Additionally, she received a hygiene kit from the Office of Civil Defense, which she mentioned could be used to store important documents during emergencies.
The DOH-Cordillera Administrative Region was supported by the Securities and Exchange Commission and Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, which offered financial health services. Other services included YAKAP registration, anti-pneumonia services, first patient encounters, mental health and nutrition-risk assessments, breast cancer screening, and legal counseling and assistance from the Public Attorney's Office. The Department of Information and Communications Technology, National Commission of Senior Citizens, Department of Tourism, Bureau of Local Government Finance, and Department of Science and Technology also participated in the caravan.
In addition to health services, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) hosted a job fair at Porta Vaga Mall where 16 local companies offered 1,313 jobs, and three overseas recruitment agencies offered 1,189 positions. By 11 a.m., 17 job seekers had been hired on the spot. Other agencies assisting job seekers included the Department of Migrant Workers, Pag-IBIG Fund, Philippine Statistics Authority, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Civil Service Commission, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Social Security System, PhilHealth, and DICT.
Sonia Binoya of City Camp Central, who received PHP7,575 in wages under DOLE's Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program, learned about government livelihood assistance during the event. She expressed hope to establish her own livelihood activity to earn independently. Binoya noted that the caravan provided her not only with TUPAD wages but also valuable information about livelihood assistance that she plans to pursue.
The service caravan also catered to pet owners, with the Benguet provincial and La Trinidad veterinary offices offering deworming, anti-rabies vaccination, pet registration, and tagging services. Brenalyn Peji, DOLE director for Human Resource and Development Service, highlighted the department's role in bringing services closer to communities. She stated that 85 sites in 73 provinces participated in the nationwide activity, with 1,024 local employers offering 90,905 jobs. "We in the department are one with the President in bringing government services closer to the people," Peji said.
