More than a thousand residents of this capital town received different government services on Friday during the 13th leg of HEALTHIER Benguet caravan.
“We wanted to bring the services of the different offices in the province to the municipalities. We also partner with government agencies so that they can also serve the residents even if they (residents) do not go to their offices in Baguio,” Governor Melchor Diclas said on the sidelines of the event held at the Wangal Sports Complex.
HEALTHIER, an acronym that stands for Health, Education, Agriculture, Livelihood, Tourism, Human resources, Infrastructure, Environment and Responsive and resilient government is the provincial government’s guide in the delivery of services to the people.
The caravan provided free medical, dental, laboratory, xray, veterinary, and legal services, as well as basic services of national government agencies like the Philippine Statistics Authority, Philippine Health Insurance Corp. (PhilHealth), Philippine National Police, and Professional Regulation Commission.
The Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAg) also distributed certified seeds while the Benguet Environment and Natural Resources Office (BENRO) also turned over fruit bearing tree seedlings to three organizations to support their regreening and livelihood programs.
Sofia Dicken, 80, from Barangay Balili, who has been suffering from cough, said she was tagged along by a neighbor to avail of the services provided during the caravan.
“I just drink lemon and honey, which helps relieve my cough, but I am grateful that they have this activity. They even gave me medicines after they checked my condition,” she said.
Dr. Meliarazon Dulay, provincial health officer, said the clients for the medical services were also registered by the municipal health office under the e-Konsulta package, enabling them to avail of PhilHealth’s medical benefits.
“With their registration, they do not have to be afraid of the medical expenses to be healthy and well. We encourage them to avail of the services at the rural health unit and the district hospitals, which are qualified and accredited as first level health care facilities of the PhilHealth. This means the patients do not have to pay for a check-up, laboratory and even basic medicines,” she said.
Benguet Governor Melchor Diclas, a medical surgeon who also provides services in some of past caravans, also availed of its services by renewing his medical license.
“Bringing government services closer to the people is a commitment of the government. It is also the essence of President (Ferdinand R.) Marcos’ (Jr.) brand of Bagong Pilipinas,” he said.
Diclas said another round of caravan will be held for the province’s 13 municipalities, as well as in far-flung villages.(PNA)
