Caravan of govt services benefit 7,000 far-flung area residents in Comval

COMPOSTELA VALLEY Oct. 20 (PIA)--- About 7,000 residents in the outskirts of Compostela town in Compostela Valley Province flocked to the recently held National Serbisyo Caravan.

Held on October 8-9 at Sitio Mambusao in Barangay Ngan in the Municipality of Compostela, Compostela Valley Province, the Caravan brought along a convergence  of services  of about 30 local and national line agencies of the government.

Agencies which joined the Caravan were the departments of Science and Technology,  Labor,  Agriculture, Agrarian Reform, Energy,  Social Welfare and Development, Works and Highways, Interior and Local Government, Health, Environment and Natural Resources and Justice.

Taking part of  the government convergence were Philippine Army, Philippine Health Insurance Corp., Philippine Coconut Authority, Professional Regulations Commission with the Integrated Professional Association of Optometrists, Inc., Philippine Information Agency XI,  Public Attorney’s Office, National Food Authority,  National Commission on Indigenous Peoples,  National Police Commission, Bureau of Fire Protection, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources and the Commission on Higher Education. 

Organized by the Association of Regional Agencies of National Agencies (ARENA) XI, the event was supported by the Office of the Presidential Assistant on the Peace Process (OPAPP) , the Office of the Cabinet Cluster on Peace, Justice and Security; the Philippine Army Headquarters;  the Provincial Government of Compostela Valley; and the Municipal Government of Compostela. 

“We aim to bring government services closer to the people,”    ARENA XI President Mariano R. Alquiza said.

Regional Director of the DPWH, Alquiza said that the National ARENA Caravan in Brgy Ngan was the last this year and that he viewed  it as “successful”  considering the number of people who came to avail of the  services.

In an interview, Col Bienvenido Datuin, brigade commander of the 701st Inf Brigade said that aside from residents of Ngan, others who came were from barangays San Miguel,  Osmena,  Panansalan and Tamia which were all far-flung areas at the boundary of Compostela  Valley and Davao Oriental.

“We are expecting 4,100 but  with the services provided, umabot ng around 7,000,” he said.

DOST XI distributed Comval iRice, Rice Mongo Curls and Tubig Talino to 60 households with undernourished children; DOLE XI awarded Certificates of Entitlement (Emergency Employment) for 100 persons good for 10 days; DA XI distributed various farm inputs amounting to P874,400. CHED waged information dissemination drive on Scholarship Grant/ Application of Sholarship and Grant-in-Aid programs; DAR XI distributed Certificates  of Land Ownership Award (CLOA); BFAR conducted dispersal of  28,000 pieces of Tilapia  and Carp while TESDA XI conducted repairs of domestic home appliances and cellphone units, offered  massage services and  released National Certificates. 

DSWD XI launched the Sustainable Livelihood Programs, Social Pension, 4Ps, Family Food Packs, Educational Supplies, Assistive Devices, Kalahi-CIDSS Projects  and delivered a total intervention of Php 38,694,150.00.

BFP Compostela Valley conducted Water Supply and Fire Safety Orientation ;  DOE did household Electrification Profiling;  NAPOLCOM facilitated the filing of complaint against erring Police Officer, filing of Death and Permanent Physical Disability Benefits Claim, filing of Police Promotional and Entrance Exam,  filing of Application for Height Waiver for PNP Recruitment and accommodated other legal queries relating to PNP.

NCIP did legal consultation; NFA organized a  mobile/rolling store licensing; PAO, documentation, consultation and counselling; DPWH conducted dental services and technical consultation; PIA XI handled the media coverage; PRC conducted renewal of PRC ID and Eye Consultation as well as  turned over pencils while PCA conducted information dissemination. DILG offered legal services, conducted orientation on DILG programs and on BUB projects, and turned over checks to former rebels  who received Php 15,000 each; PHIC conducted Philhealth enrolment; DENR-PENRO distributed 12,500 Falcata seedlings and 1,000 fruit trees/coffee.

DOJ distributed IEC materials  on Alternative Dispute Resolution while OPAPP with its national official, Assistant Secretary Jennifer Santiago-Oreta distributed school bags, slippers, English-Tagalog coloring and storybook, Crayons, Pencils, sharpener and pad paper.

DOH XI rendered various medical  services as well as dental services; conducted Tuli, eye check-up, Cataract screening and Surgical screening; conducted minor surgery and Ultrasound. It also distributed  treated mosquito nets  and hygiene kits for pregnant mothers, and treated curtains for schools.

Aside from handling security and safety concerns, the Philippine Army with commands under the 10th Infantry Division, conducted  the needs assessment survey (NAS) and handled the physical arrangement  of the program venue  and the set-up of the services-delivery site. The local governments of Compostela Valley Province and Municipality of Compostela took care of the accommodation, logistics and other preparations.  (PIA XI/ Jeanevive Duron-Abangan)