Residents of Sibalom town in Antique are benefiting from a government outreach program aimed at bringing essential services and support to remote communities.
The “Serbisyo Caravan and Ugnayan sa Barangay” initiative, spearheaded by the Municipal Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (MTF-ELCAC), has been bringing government services to seven upland barangays from September 16 to 27, 2024.
The caravan has provided a wide range of services, including medical and dental check-ups, dental extractions, hair grooming, and the distribution of reading glasses, towels, and blankets.
The initiative is a tangible example of the government’s commitment to empowering communities and ensuring that residents have access to essential services, aligning with the theme of Consumer Welfare Month: ‘Be Smart, Assert Your Consumer Rights!’.
The “Serbisyo Caravan and Ugnayan sa Barangay” is a key component of the Retooled Community Support Program (RCSP) of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), which aims to identify issues at the barangay level and determine needed government interventions.
As part of the outreach program, government agencies and offices have engaged in dialogues with community members to address their concerns and provide solutions.
The initiative has been well-received by residents, who expressed gratitude for the accessible services and the opportunity to engage with government officials.
In Sibalom town, the RCSP-identified barangays are Tula-tula, Luyang, Tig-ohot, Panlagangan, and Cabanbanan.
One of the beneficiaries is Brgy. Cabanbanan resident Rose Ann Daquipil who brought her six-year-old daughter to the event for a free dental extraction.
Daquipil also consulted government doctors about her allergies.
Another beneficiary, Leah Isidro from the same barangay, thanked the government for bringing basic services to their community.
Without having to spend money to get to the Rural Health Center (RHC) in the town center, Isidro said the Serbisyo Caravan is what residents in far-flung areas need.
For his part, Sibalom town Mayor Gian Carlo Occeña conveyed his gratitude to all Task Force ELCAC members and volunteers for their continued support and cooperation towards lasting and sustainable peace in the municipality and the country.
Some of the MTF-ELCAC members present at the activity supported by the Provincial Government of Antique were the Philippine Army (PA), the Antique Police Provincial Office (AnPPO), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Department of Health (DOH), the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), and the DILG, among others.
Given the successes against insurgency, Task Force ELCAC remains committed to safeguarding internal peace and stability through the whole-of-nation approach. (AGP/BPS/PIA Antique)
