TAGOLOAN, Lanao del Norte (PIA) — More than 1,000 households from Barangays Kiazar and Darimbang in this town benefited from the Bagong Pilipinas Information-Serbisyo caravan that brought 33 government agencies to provide various services, programs, and assistance.
The Communication and Advocacy Committee of the Regional Development Council-10, in collaboration with the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), local government of Tagoloan, provincial government of Lanao del Norte, regional line agencies, Philippine Army, Regional Association of Government Communicators, and the LaNorte Information Officers Network, led the caravan.
This is in line with President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr.’s 8-point socioeconomic agenda, which focuses on food security, improved transportation, affordable and clean energy, health care, social services, education, bureaucratic efficiency, and sound fiscal management.
“How can we be united if we are harboring these political divisions in our society? Gusto ng pangulo na magkaisa na tayo ngayon. Sabi nga ng pangulo, the best future was not in our past. Ang kagandahan sa buhay ay nasa ating hinaharap,” said PIA-10 Regional Head Franklin Gumapon.
(How can we be united if we are harboring these political divisions in our society? The president wants us to be united now. As the President said, the best future was not in our past. The beauty of life lies in our future.)
Tagoloan Mayor Maminta Dimakuta emphasized that the initiative is part of the government’s strategy to help end local communist-armed conflicts.
“We are literally bringing the government services closer to the people, lalo na sa mga beneficiaries sa geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas. At sa katunayan, isa rin itong paraan ng gobyerno para matigil ang mga local communist-armed conflicts. Sa pamamagitan nitong caravan, malaki ang tulong sa ating mamamayan dito sa Barangay Darimbang at Kiazar,” he said.
(We are literally bringing government services closer to the people, especially to beneficiaries in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas. In fact, this serves as a means for the government to contribute to the resolution of local communist-armed conflicts. Through this caravan, it provides significant assistance to our citizens here in Barangay Darimbang and Kiazar.)
Nearby barangays such as Malimbato, Panalawan, and Dimayon and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front communities in Tagoloan also benefited from the caravan. In light of this, Abdullah “Commander Bravo” G. Macapaar, a Member of Parliament in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority, acknowledged the initiative.
“Kami ay nagpapasalamat sa mga tulong galing sa national government, sa ating Pangulong Bongbong Marcos Jr., na nandito lahat ng agencies na tumutulong sa iba’t-ibang kailangan ng ating community,” he said.
(We are grateful for the support provided by the national government and our President, Bongbong Marcos Jr., as all the agencies are dedicated to addressing the diverse needs of our community.)
The community expressed gratitude for the various services they received from the caravan.
“Pasalamat ko kay nag-caravan sila diri, nakahatag pa gyud ang uban nga mga ahensya og bisan unsa nga gipanghatag,” Talib Cosain said.
(I am thankful that they held a caravan here, and other agencies were able to provide various kinds of assistance.)
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources distributed 72,000 tilapia fingerlings to the community. They also promoted their Fisheries Scholarship Program, along with distributing IEC materials for post-harvest and fish processing techniques to empower local fishers.
The Department of Agrarian Reform provided legal consultations and discussed land tenure improvements and support services. They also highlighted their Project SPLIT, to accelerate the distribution of individual titles for agrarian reform beneficiaries.
The Department of Environment and Natural Resources, through the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office-Iligan and Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Office of Lanao del Norte, distributed more than 200 tree seedlings, including narra, mangium, and bayok species, and offered land titling assistance, environmental permits, and information on resource management to ensure sustainable practices within the community.
The Philippine Coconut Authority distributed 300-500 coconut seedlings and offered consultations on their programs and projects, along with IEC materials, to enhance coconut production in the region. The National Irrigation Administration showcased their programs and services to provide information about irrigation management and its role in improving agricultural productivity.
The Department of Agriculture, with the help of the 42nd Mechanized Infantry Company and Municipal Agriculture Office distributed 100 packs of assorted vegetable seeds to the community to encourage sustainable farming practices and increase food production.
The National Nutrition Council promoted good nutrition by offering nutrition education and counseling and distributed IEC materials and flyers to encourage healthy lifestyles. The Philippine Health Insurance Corporation assisted residents with member registration and updating their data records to ensure their access to healthcare coverage.
The Provincial Health Office of Lanao del Norte and Department of Health provided free medical and dental services and medicines to address the health concerns of residents and ensure access to essential health care. Meanwhile, the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office conducted a feeding program for children and vulnerable sectors to support the community’s well-being.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development conducted consultations on the social pension for senior citizens, discussed various social programs, and distributed IEC materials, brochures, and umbrellas to raise awareness of DSWD services. The Philippine Statistics Authority facilitated national ID registration and assisted residents to avail of civil registry documents and access essential identification and records services.
The National Commission on Muslim Filipinos carried out an IEC campaign that highlighted the services and programs available to the Muslim community, offered legal advice, and encouraged awareness and access to government services.
The Department of Education, in partnership with the Inner Wheel Club, distributed slippers and school kits to children to promote educational support and provide essential materials for their studies.
The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) showcased its programs and provided assistance with the installation and registration of the eGOV Super App and LAKIP platforms. They also provided internet connectivity for the government agencies to improve digital access during the course of the caravan.
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), in partnership with MSU-IIT’s DOST Scholars’ Association, promoted DOST programs and services, including SETUP and CEST programs, consultancy, training services, and scholarship opportunities. They also distributed IEC materials to community members.
The Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) conducted an IEC campaign to inform the community about their services, including the Balik-Manggagawa OEC issuance and e-registration. They also raised awareness about anti-illegal recruitment and human trafficking.
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) conducted an IEC campaign about the scholarships and death benefits available to OWWA members. They also distributed informational materials about their programs. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) provided information on their employment facilitation services, registration of workers’ associations, and other DOLE programs that help local workers improve their livelihood opportunities.
The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provided IEC materials on their programs and services to offer guidance to local entrepreneurs and promote economic growth within the community. To encourage local business owners and taxpayers to comply with tax regulations through simpler, more accessible processes, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) conducted an IEC campaign that focused on the Ease of Paying Taxes (EOPT) and BIR eServices.
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority-10 conducted skills demonstrations on pastry making, profiled interested individuals for their programs, and distributed brochures to promote training opportunities.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) distributed brochures that highlighted their ongoing and upcoming infrastructure projects, such as farm-to-market roads and multipurpose buildings. Additionally, they provided grocery items to 100 households as part of their outreach effort.
The Department of Tourism (DOT) promoted the accreditation of tourism establishments and provided training opportunities for tourism frontliners to enhance the local tourism industry and its services.
The Bureau of Jail Management and Penology distributed IEC materials for their programs and services, and they also conducted a feeding program.
The Philippine Army’s 2nd Mechanized Infantry Brigade, offered free haircut services and free circumcision services. They also provided ice cream as a treat for the children. Meanwhile, the 1st Infantry Division also extended dental services to promote health and hygiene in the community.
The Lanao del Norte Police Provincial Office provided free haircuts and circumcision services. They also brought a mobile library to provide children access to books and educational materials.
Highlighting the dangers of illegal drugs and offering consultations to help the community stay informed about drug-related issues, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency conducted a drug awareness campaign.
Moreover, the Land Transportation Office conducted an educational campaign on vehicle registration and licensing processes to help local drivers understand the proper procedures and requirements. (LELA/PIA-10/Lanao del Norte)
