DAVAO ORIENTAL – Close to 7,000 residents in two remote villages here have benefited in the recently held outreach caravan of the Provincial Government.
Residents of the farming village of Tagbinonga and the fishing village of Macambol , situated both in the capital city of Mati, are the latest recipients of the Provincial Government’s regular program called Nagkakaisang Lingkod-Bayan ng Davao Oriental Barangay Outreach Caravan (NLD-BOC).
Villagers warmly welcomed the “festive” and “heartwarming” feel of the caravan with more than 40 government agencies coming together bringing with them much-needed government services.
Among the distributed goods are OPV corn seeds, peanut seeds, vegetable seeds, cacao seedlings, and ginger rhizomes with fertilizers from the Provincial Agriculture Office. Also turned over are school bags and sports equipment from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office.
Among the highlight services rendered were free medical checkup, dental services, eye checkup, and distribution of eyeglasses and medicines for various illness, and distribution of assistive devices for People with Disabilities (PWD). Registration to life and health insurance agencies such as the SSS and Philhealth, securing of legal documents such as marriage and birth certificates were also among those services. There were also legal consultations with regards to land by the Department of Agrarian Reform and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
The caravan has also become a venue for various advocacy campaigns such as environment protection, disaster resilience, anti-illegal drugs, and lectures against violent extremism, among many others.
Tagbinonga Punong Barangay Webster Luis expressed his heartfelt thanks to the Provincial Government for giving his village the chance to become recipient of the program. “The people here are very thankful as they didn’t need to go to the economic center, which is several kilometers from our barangay, just to avail of all these services,” he said.
BRINGING THE GOVERNMENT CLOSER TO THE PEOPLE
Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang, who initiated the caravan as his flagship program, said that it is among the Provincial Government’s ways of reaching out to the communities and by making people feel the presence of the government, thus, an effective way to address the issues on peace and order.
During the caravan, Governor Dayanghirang took time to talk to the residents, urging them to support the programs of the government, especially in terms of peace and development. He said that they can contribute towards this endeavor by cooperating with the authorities and by being vigilant against those that disrupt the peace.
Amid the Provincial Government’s effort to bring in investors that are willing to put up businesses here, Governor Dayanghirang asked the residents to help the government create an environment conducive for business. “There can be no development without peace and no peace without development,” he said, noting that the presence of violence is a huge bottleneck to investments. “Businesses give our people the opportunity to find jobs. If you support the “enemy”, you are also hindering the progress of our province and the future of the next generation,” he said. “Our soldiers and the police forces cannot do it alone. We need everyone’s active participation so that we may be able to achieve our goals,” he added.
Officials from the Department of Interior and Local Government, the Philippine National Police, and the Philippine Army also called for unity and support from the people.
In light of the upcoming barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections, 701st Brigade Commander Brigadier General Reuben Basiao reminded the villagers to “Select those who are committed to peace and those who will not allow illegal drugs in your barangay.” DILG Provincial Director Yvette Sunga also reminded the community to select those who are responsible and who have the capacity for the post.
Newly installed Commander of the 28th Infantry Battalion LTC Miguel Ramon also called for the people’s cooperation with the authorities in the effort to maintain peace and order in the communities. Photos by Eden Jhan Licayan
