DAVAO ORIENTAL—The Office of the President, through the office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP), has become the newest partner of the provincial government here in bringing goods and services to communities through the Nagkakaisang Lingkod-Bayan ng Davao Oriental Barangay Outreach Caravan (NLD-BOC).
During the NLD-BOC held on August 14-16 in six barangays in Baganga town, staff from OSAP has distributed a total of 1,400 notebooks along with food packs.
In addition 150 basket balls have been given to children who undergo basketball coaching so that the children may steer clear from using illegal drugs.
OSAP staff Edmar Dacula said that the office of SAP Bong Go hopes to serve all barangays of this province.
“We will be serving the entire province of Davao Oriental to reach out to all communities and to provide them what they need. The office of the President, through SAP Bong Go, is willing to accommodate all requests from the barangays of this province,” Dacula said.
Together with 41 participating agencies and offices, the NLD-BOC was successfully conducted in barangays Batawan, Salingcomot, Bobonao, Baculin, Batiano, and Lucod. Services rendered include health, dental, and social services.
Livelihood programs turned-over include OPV corn seeds, assorted vegetable seeds, foliar liquid fertilizer, and mung beans from Provincial Agriculture Office (PAGRO); OPV corn seeds from the Department of Agriculture’s Davao Commercial Agriculture Research Station (DaCARS); tilapia fingerlings and fishing gadgets from Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR); coconut seedlings from Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA); membership from PhilHealth; and, Emergency Employment Program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE). The Department of Social Welfare and Development Office gave out food packs while its provincial counterpart, the PSWDO, distributed school bags and sports materials.
Hospitalization Assistance
More than becoming a regular NLD-BOC partner, the Office of the President, through SAP Bong Go, will also establish an office in every government-owned hospital here.
Governor Nelson L. Dayanghirang, in an interview, said he is pleased that OSAP, together with other agencies, will create a “one-stop-shop” that will provide assistance to poor patients. Governor Dayanghirang has already set up satellite offices not only in the province but also in Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City, and Davao Regional Hospital in Tagum City to cater to the needs of residents here admitted in these hospitals.
“I am very happy that no less than the office of the President supports our program—the NLD-BOC knowing the fact that it is the only regular Serbisyo Caravan in the whole country. So when SAP Bong Go heard about this program, he did not hesitate to support it and they will continue supporting us in our upcoming NLD Caravan here in the whole province. Not only that, we will be conducting a one-stop shop in every hospital here wherein no less than the office of the president will establish an office that will immediately provide assistance to all patients who need help. That include the PhilHealth Office, the DSWD, PCSO, and the PAGCOR, and other offices that are involved in providing social services to the public,” he said.
With the offices still being set up, Dayanghirang said that the “one-stop-shop” will be established in Davao Oriental Provincial Medical Center (DOPMC) next month, stressing that “it will become a welcome development for us because it is the first time for the office of the President to put up an office in our hospital to help the needy residents”.
He said that he has talked with Senator JV Ejercito who has expressed willingness to join NLD-BOC. “He will be sending his representative and his assistance so that NLD Caravan will become much more effective.” Photos by Eden Jhan Licayan
