DAVAO ORIENTAL — More than 150 residents of Sitio Malig in Barangay Don Mariano Marcos, Lupon, Davao Oriental have benefited from the free medical services delivered by the provincial government on Tuesday, November 4, 2020.
The services offered include free medical check-up, “Operation Tuli” on young boys, eye consultation, and distribution of walkers and wheelchairs to Persons with Disabilities (PWD), and senior citizens.
“Maayo pud ni nga nahitabo ni nga ing-ani nga programa kay daghan pud ug matabangan nga mga walang-wala gyud ba… kanang wala gyu’y ika-pacheck-up, siyempre kay krisis karon (It is a good thing that this kind of program was held as more people, particularly those who are in need, are offered helped, especially in this time of crisis),” said Randy Maybuena, one of the PWD beneficiaries.
The medical mission was a joint effort of the provincial government through the Provincial Health Office and the 28th Infantry Battalion and the 701st Brigade of the Philippine Army.
Sitio Malig, one of the many far-flung villages in the province, has been identified as one of the many areas in the province that are vulnerable to armed conflict due to the presence and influence of the Communist-Terrorist group, New People’s Army and its political allies.
With this, the Provincial Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (PTF-ELCAC) has agreed to conduct a special medical mission in the area with the aim to reach out to the community and to show that the government cares for them.
The program is under the localized implementation of President Rodrigo Duterte’s Executive Order 70 or the Whole-of-Nation Approach to End Local Communist Armed Conflict which aims to bring the government closer to the people by providing basic government services, especially in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.
During the activity, concerned stakeholders engaged the community, urging them to withdraw their support from the Communist-Terrorist Group and give their support instead to the peace-building and development efforts of the government.
“Maintaining peace and order is not solely a responsibility of the government and the armed forces. All of us play a role in maintaining peace and order in our community,” said First Lieutenant Justin Carlos Yu, Civilian Military Operations Officer of 28th Infantry Battalion. By Shaye Dacles | Photos by Eden Jhan Licayan
