DAVAO ORIENTAL—The Provincial Government’s flagship program on peace and development, the Nagkakaisang Lingkod Bayan ng Davao Oriental Barangay Outreach Caravan (NLD-BOC), has been gaining positive response from its partner communities.

During the two-day outreach caravan held in the four communities in Lupon town, namely Barangay Lantawan, Tagboa, Tagugpo, and Cabadiangan, NLD Focal Person at the same time Provincial Agriculturist Rotchie M. Ravelo said that the program has been “earning positive and encouraging results” from the initial assessment conducted by the NLD-BOC Secretariat.

“The assessment is still on-going but we’re done with Boston and Tarragona because these are the first municipalities with barangays that have been completely served.  So, the initial results are very encouraging because people really are happy with the program,” said Ravelo.

To date, a total of 449,764 residents from 126 partner communities or barangays reached have already availed of the said program.

More and more services were added to the outreach caravan as the program continues to gain support from different agencies. As of writing, a total of 75 national government agencies and provincial and municipal offices have already enrolled in the program. Some of the services that are delivered to the communities are free medical examination, dental services, Philippine Health (PhilHealth) Insurance registration, consultation services, veterinary services, and employment services. On the other hand, goods distributed are food packs, agricultural seeds and seedlings, school bags with school supplies, PWD stick, and medicines, among many others.

Aside from the basic services and goods, Ravelo said that the presence of the government gave positive impact in the community. He said that the caravan has made the voices of the villagers heard by the government, especially the pressing issues and concerns that need immediate intervention.

“The residents can validate that the government is really there for them. That the governor or the mayor listens even to the ordinary villager. So, the people really felt the so-called good governance,” he said

In the village of Lantawan, Punong Barangay Dioscoro Magnanao has lobbied the need of the residents for a steady water supply and a concrete road. Punong Barangay Joel Cabahug of Barangay Tagboa has also underscored Potable Water System as the most needed infrastructure project in their area. The barangay chairman of the other two barangays have also voiced their community’s needs.

“I have talked to the Punong Barangays so I will set a meeting next week with Governor Dayanghirang. That way, we will be able to personally apprise the governor of the status of their barangays especially on the projects needed like water system,” he said.

Other projects identified is the development of an abaca plantation which will be implemented in partnership with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and the Municipal Government of Lupon.

Emphasizing the contribution of NLD-BOC in improving peace and development situation in the province, Ravelo assures that the NLD team “will deliver the kind of services that is more than what we usually give them” to the remaining 57 barangays.

“People are inspired by the efforts of the government and when people are inspired, they themselves will work hard to reach their vision because they will own it. Peace and development are not only the dream of the government officials. This is also a dream of every resident. So, they will own it and they will work hard for it,” Ravelo added.