MANILA, (PIA) — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. announced Thursday a commitment to expand the “Lab for All” Project, which provides free medical services to underserved Filipinos, to include all 7,063 geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) across the country.
During the launch of the Lab for All caravan at Rizal High School in Pasig City, Marcos emphasized the initiative’s purpose, which is led by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos. He highlighted the importance of ensuring access to healthcare, particularly for those living in remote locations.
“Health is wealth. Wealth is useless if we do not have good health. For our less fortunate countrymen, getting sick poses a significant challenge, especially in far-flung areas,” Marcos said. “Projects like Lab for All are crucial in delivering reliable medical services to those who need it most.”
The initiative is particularly focused on assisting vulnerable groups, including senior citizens, persons with disabilities, pregnant women, and individuals with compromised immune systems.
The Lab for All Project aims to enhance healthcare accessibility for indigenous communities and those in rural areas by providing mobile laboratories equipped with advanced medical technology, including X-ray machines, ultrasound devices, and portable monitors for urine, glucose, and cholesterol levels.
At the caravan event, Marcos and the First Lady presented three Lab for All mobile laboratories to the municipalities of Sta. Catalina in Ilocos Sur, Tacloban City, and Pasig City. Since its inception in May 2023, the Lab for All caravan has reached at least 35 locations nationwide.
In addition to medical services, the caravan also offers various government services, such as scholarship grants from the Commission on Higher Education and agricultural support, including vegetable seeds and fruit tree seedlings from the Department of Agriculture.
Participating agencies include the Development Bank of the Philippines and the Departments of the Interior and Local Government, Health, Social Welfare, Trade, and the Food and Drug Administration.
The Lab for All Project underscores the administration’s commitment to addressing healthcare disparities and ensuring that essential medical services are accessible to all Filipinos, particularly those most in need. (JCO/PIA-NCR)
(Photos: RTVM screenshot)
