CAPEX IS BACK. Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc greets local residents in Currimao on Monday (March 21, 2023) as he led the distribution of various government assistance and services to underserved communities. This forms part of the “Capitol Express” program of the Ilocos Norte government as it resumed operations this week after it was halted by the pandemic. (Photo by Alaric Yanos, PGIN-CMO)
LAOAG CITY – The provincial government’s mobile “Capitol Express,” which goes out to the communities to bring government services right at their doorsteps, has resumed operations this week after being halted by the pandemic.
The Capitol Express’ (or Capex) first stop on March 21 was at the Gaang covered court in Currimao town where around 500 residents from the clustered Barangays of Maglaoi Sur/Norte, Anggapang Sur/Norte, Cabuusan, Gaang, Lang-ayan, Tapao-Tigue, Victoria, Pias Sur, Sta. Cruz, and Maglaoi Norte were served.
With help from the Capex team, residents no longer have to go to different offices to avail of government services from the Provincial Health Office, Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, Public Employment Services Office, Sustainable Development Council, Provincial Agriculture Office, Small and Medium Enterprises Office, and the Environment and Natural Resources Office.
Various healthcare services, particularly for senior citizens and persons with disabilities, are being delivered including the provision of livelihood assistance and cash-for-work aid to the unemployed and marginalized earners, as well as the distribution of fishing gears like fish cage nets to fishers and various agriculture inputs to farmers.
Hog raisers previously affected by the African swine fever also received piglets and goats with feeds, while public transport drivers and eligible farmers continue to get fuel subsidies -- both from the local and national governments.
“Thank you so much to the Capex team led by Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc for extending medical assistance and other services to our constituents,” Lang-ayan village chief Gemma Fernando thanked the provincial government for extending medical assistance and other services to her constituents in Currimao.
Apart from Currimao, the Capex team is also scheduled to visit barangays in Badoc and Pagudpud this week.
Services like the Kadiwa on Wheels, the distribution of medicines, agri-inputs, livestock supplements, wheelchairs, canes, and reading glasses are also avaiable during the Capex rollout.
Meanwhile, the Provincial Veterinary Office led by Dr. Loida Valenzuela has reiterated to all hog raisers to remain vigilant and ensure the strict observance of biosafety measures to fresh ASF cases in the province.
“We are soon to have all of the affected towns become ASF yellow zones in our province. But our work does not stop there,” said Valenzuela as she underscored the importance of laboratory surveillance and monitoring to prove that the province is free from the disease.
As the main actors in preventing the spread of ASF in the province, hog raisers were enjoined to report to authorities any unusual acts that may threaten the hog industry once more, Valenzuela said. (PNA)
