PALO, Leyte– Thousands of residents from Palo and neighboring towns flocked to the Leyte Academic Complex on Saturday, September 13, as Leyte province hosted the “Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat Para Sa Lahat” caravan—an inter-agency outreach program bringing government services directly to communities.
The event, part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s flagship effort to deliver “whole-of-government” assistance nationwide, gathered dozens of national government agencies offering medical care, social services, financial aid, and livelihood support. National Youth Commission (NYC) Chairperson Joseph Francisco Ortega represented the President, while Leyte 5th district board member Carlo Loreto represented Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla.
In his speech, Ortega underscored the role of young people in sustaining government initiatives. “Sa mga kabataan, ang inyong pakikilahok ay mahalaga. Kayo ang susi upang maihatid ang mga benepisyo na kagaya nito… sa bawat barangay sa inyong probinsya,” he said, stressing that the government’s support is designed to bring lasting change to communities.
Among the highlights of the caravan include with the Department of Health (DOH) providing medical consultations, dental services, HIV screening, free medicines, and distribution of assistive devices (wheelchairs and crutches).
Department of Agriculture (DA), distributing P30 million worth of agricultural assistance to Leyte, Southern Leyte, Biliran, Samar, and Eastern Samar; turnover of P7.9 million in interventions to 10 farmer beneficiaries under its banner programs; and distribution of 300 sacks of rice under the “Benteng Bigas Meron (BBM) Na” initiative.
The Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) issued 501 Certificates of Condonation with Release of Mortgage (COCROM) to 500 agrarian reform beneficiaries with a condoned total of P29.6 million while the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)distributed P562,500 under the Tulong Dunong Program and P3.59 million under the Tertiary Education Subsidy.
Other agencies present included the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Trade and Industry, Small Business Corporation, and the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation—each providing frontline services to residents.
The caravan underscored the Marcos administration’s commitment to decentralizing services and reaching grassroots communities, ensuring that government programs are accessible to ordinary Filipinos in the provinces.
(ROEL T. AMAZONA)
