CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY (PIA ) -- At least 700 residents of a remote village in Malaybalay City in Bukidnon availed of free social services and learned more about the government during the Information and Serbisyo Caravan organized by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) on April 30.

Conducted in partnership with the Communications and Advocacy Group of the Regional Development Council (RDC)-10, the caravan offered an array of services to bring government programs and services closer to the Mapulo village, one of the geographically-isolated and disadvantaged barangays in Bukidnon province.

Services offered include free medical and dental services with medicines, national ID registration, driver’s license registration, student driver permit application, and voter’s registration, among others.

Consultation on business registration, business financing, emergency employment and livelihood, financing, provision of family planning commodities, family planning counseling, and information drive on road safety were also provided.

Various IEC materials on government programs and services were likewise distributed to the village residents

“Magpasalamat kita kay ang upat ka gobyerno: ang barangay Mapulo, Malaybalay city government, provincial government sa Bukidnon, ug ang national government mipaduol sa Mapulo aron makahatag sa ilang mga serbisyo diri sa Mapulo,” said city mayor Jay Warren Pabillaran.

(We thank the four levels of government–Barangay Mapulo, the Malaybalay city government, provincial government of Bukidnon, and the national government, for bringing their services here," stated city mayor Jay Warren Pabillaran.

Mapulo Punong Barangay Joylyn Atchame expressed gratitude for the initiative, which made them feel valued and included in government services despite their remote location. She mentioned that the caravan provided Mapulo residents with the opportunity to access various free services without the need to travel to the city proper.

“Nagpasalamat kita kay dili na ta moadto sa lungsod sa Malaybalay kay sila na mismo ang niadto sa atong pobreng barangay. Nagsakripisyo sila maski layo ang atong barangay,” she told her constituents.

(We're so grateful for services reaching our barangay, sparing us the long trip to Malaybalay City. Their effort, despite the distance, is exemplary and truly appreciated).

The agencies that participated in the caravan include the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Agriculture (DA), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT).

The Commission on Population and Development (CPD), Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Provincial Health Office (PHO), City Health Office (CHO), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation, (PhilHealth), National Nutrition Council, Commission on Elections (Comelec), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Philippine Army (PA), Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Drugs Enforcement Agency (PDEA), Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), Land Transportation Office (LTO), National Youth Commission (NYC), National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), and National Commission of Senior Citizens (NCSC) were also present during the caravan.

"Dako kaayo among pasalamat sa mga ahensya nga ni anhi gyud sa among barangay bisan layo kaayo, talagsaon kaayo kini nga higayon. Pasalamat gyud ko isip President sa Senior Citizens sa among barangay kay dili na mo-byahi sa syudad aron lang magpa rehistro sa senior,” expressed  77-year old Manuel Linsabayan.

(I am deeply grateful to the agencies that came all the way to our barangay despite the distance; this opportunity is truly rare. As the President of the Senior Citizens in our barangay, I am thankful that our elderly no longer need to travel to the city just to register as seniors).

Mylen Lirata also expressed gratitude after availing the voter registration service from the Comelec. "Pasalamat ko sa tanan nga ahensya nga naa karon labi na gyud sa Comelec kay wala nami ni adto sa sentro sa Malaybalay aron lang maka register, nakasave nami sa among oras ug pamasahe,” she said.

(I am thankful to all the agencies who came here today, especially to the Comelec because we don’t need to go to Malaybalay City anymore just to register. We saved time and transportation expenses). (APB, PIA Region 10)