MANILA, Aug. 12--Government officials under the human development cluster on Saturday encouraged people's participation on programs and services in education, health and social protection that will bring about positive changes and upliftment of lives especially among the poor.
“Ang pagbabago ay ginagawa at ikinikilos," said Assistant Secretary Jonas Soriano of the Office of the Cabinet Secretary during the Inter-Agency Serbisyo Caravan held at Commonwealth Elementary School on Saturday.
Soriano said that its time for the people to unite and involve themselves in achieving the changes that the government provided and offered.
"Tungkulin ho ng estado na lumaya ang mamamayan sa kahirapan sa pamamagitan ng serbisyong panlipunan," said Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo as she cited that it was guaranteed in the 1987 constitution that the state should promote a just and dynamic social order that would ensure prosperity and independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, rise in standard of living and improved quality of life for all.
Taguiwalo said that in line with that they are following the orders of President Rodrigo R. Duterte that genuine and compassionate care in the delivery of services will be felt by the people as they go down to the poor in series of "townhall" meetings like the one they are doing through the "edukasyon,Kalusugan at Proteksyon" caravan activity and other forthcoming series of it.
Taguiwalo said upon the suggestion of DSWD Assistant Secretary Aleli Bawagan, instead of conducting such activities in high class hotels, the said services could actually be done directly to the people particulalry in settings like townhall.
She said that DSWD had several programs and services under its mandate and the latest of which was Lingap Sa Masa through the 1 Billion Medicine Assistance of Duterte under his Presidential Social Funds.
She said that currently they were on the way to expanding the medicine assistance program so that more patients in government hospitals such as East Avenue Medical Center, Philippine Children Medical Center, E Rodriguez Hospital and Quirino Hospital, would be benefited.
She also clarified that professionals or working class could also gain access to the Lingap sa Masa.
The said program is available only in six hospitals (University of the Philippines-Philippine General Hospital for NCR; Jose B. Lingad Memorial Hospital in San Fernando City, Pampanga for Central Luzon; Western Visayas Medical Center in Iloilo City for Western Visayas; Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center in Cebu City for Central Visayas; and Southern Philippines Medical Center in Davao City and Davao Regional Hospital in Tagum City, both for the Davao Region).
She added that they also provided rice subsidy for the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries, Social Pension, services for persons with disabilities and solo parents and livelihood program; Hilom Bayan for the rehabilitation of former drug dependents from poor communities.
She likewise shared the current 'Kamustahan" activity of DOH to its beneficiaries of 4Ps like urging those who are already capable to stand on their own and voluntarily graduate from the program.
She said that they also maintained close coordination with different government agencies in implementing the program.
Aside from Taguiwalo, also present in the event were representatives from other government agencies including DOH Undersecretary Gerardo Bayugo as he brought along healthworkers and dental buses to provide medical and dental services.
Bayugo also shared to the people the 12 Legacies that DOH wants to accomplish through the leadership of Secretary Paulyn Ubial in following the directives of Pres. Duterte to take care of the poor.
Also present was Technical Education Skills and Development Authority (TESDA) Director General Guiling Mamondiong, who reminded poor to continue fighting for their right to education.
"Di po kayo makaahon sa kahirapan kung wala ang edukasyon," Mamondiong said which he explained can be through formal education or through technical education.
He further said that with several training centers nationwide, and free tuition, transportation and allowance there is no reason for anyone not to avail said training that it offers.
The caravan is a way to let the people understand the different services of the government and be aware on what are the ways wherein the people can access them.
Upcoming caravans will focus on bringing livelihood, employment, and other basic services that people should have access being pushed for under the Kilos Sambayanan through the public consultation spearheaded by National Anti-Poverty Commision in its National Anti-Poverty Summit last year. (PNA)
