VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (PIA) – About 196 residents in Ilocos Sur received free medicines and consultations from the Department of Health (DOH) during the simultaneous nationwide “Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat” event in celebration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s birthday on Sept. 13 at the Provincial Farmers Livelihood Development Center here.
Reflecting the president’s commitment to serve the Filipino people, the service fair aims to bring government services closer to the communities, familiarize the people with essential government programs, and offer support to help individuals start their livelihoods and be able to meet their daily needs.
In coordination with the provincial health office, free blood sugar and cholesterol testing was also available to the recipients.
According to the DOH, the recipients were assessed for risk factors such as lifestyle-related diseases like hypertension and diabetes.
They were then referred to health facilities for further management and laboratory examinations.
Engr. John Foz, provincial head of DOH-Ilocos Sur, encouraged the public to undergo annual checkups, whether they are sick or not, to monitor their health.
He said, “Bawat buhay ng Pilipino ay mahalaga. Ito po ang mantra ng ating Pangulong Marcos at sa direksyon po ng ating Secretary Ted Herbosa ng DOH. Under the Universal Healthcare Law, preventive medicine ang aming prino-promote at pinatutupad. Inaanyayahan po namin na ang bawat Pilipino ay magpakonsulta sa pinakamalapit na health center, may sakit man o wala, dapat ay magpacheck-up kada taon upang matugunan ang kalusugan ng bawat Pilipino. Ulitin ko po na ang buhay ay mahalaga at ang yaman ng bawat pamilya ay malusog at masaya rin ang pamilya.”
(Every Filipino life is valuable. This is the mantra of our President Marcos, and under the direction of Secretary Herbosa of the DOH, we are promoting and implementing preventive medicine under the Universal Healthcare Law. We invite every Filipino to consult with the nearest health center, whether they are sick or not; everyone should have an annual check-up to address [and monitor] their health. I reiterate that life is important and every family’s wealth is also healthy and happy.)
One of the beneficiaries of the DOH services was Loida Tamurong, a 49-year-old resident of Caoayan town, who expressed her gratitude to the government for its unwavering support to the residents of Ilocos Sur.
She said, “Nakaawatnak it agasko a multivitamins ken agas a para sakit iti tultulang ken free consultation ket agyaman nak kenni Presidente Bongbong Marcos kadagitoy a naawat ko nga agas [ken dadduma pay a tulong] nga inpaayyo kadakami.”
(I received my multivitamins, bone disease medicines, and free consultation, and I thank President Bongbong Marcos for these medicines [and other assistance] you provided us.)
Moreover, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) awarded assistance on livelihood support projects such as banana chip processing, squash processing, rice retailing, and goat-raising to 40 recipients from Ilocos Sur.
In collaboration with DOLE, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board also provided a goat-raising livelihood package to a recipient from Tagudin town.
Additionally, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority distributed a Training Support Fund to 10 scholars of Caregiving NC II, who received a total of ₱47,000 in scholarships.
Lastly, the Department of Agriculture awarded various agricultural interventions, such as agri-machinery, hybrid and vegetable seeds, and garden tools, to identified farmer-beneficiaries amounting to P12.9 million pesos, and the Department of Trade and Industry discussed their programs and services to the participants. (MJTAB/VGS, PIA Ilocos Sur)
