National government agencies gathered in Iloilo on Saturday to deliver various programs and services as part of the “Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat para sa Lahat,” marking President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s 68th birthday.
Education Undersecretary Peter Irving Corvera said the initiative reflects the President’s reminder that “the opportunity to serve is a privilege.” Interior and Local Government Regional Director Juan Jovian Ingeniero added that the caravan highlights “a people-centered governance initiative… designed to ensure government assistance, programs and opportunities reach communities directly, especially those who need them the most.”
Among the key services was “Benteng Bigas Meron Na!” which distributed 1,400 bags of rice at PHP20 per kilo, benefitting 7,000 recipients across the region. Beneficiary Melanie Abello, a former overseas worker, said the 50-kilo bag was a big help for her family, lasting them two weeks or more.
The Department of Education turned over 100 “EduKahon” learning recovery kits, while the Department of Labor and Employment announced 1,432 local job vacancies and released wages under its emergency employment program. TESDA provided toolkits and training funds, while the DENR distributed fruit tree seedlings.
The Department of Health offered free screenings, consultations, and medicines, with three regional hospitals opening their outpatient departments despite the weekend. The province’s 13 hospitals also enforced zero-balance billing for discharged patients.
The Department of Agriculture turned over a tractor, seeds, fertilizer subsidies, and indemnity checks worth PHP798,189 to farmers and fisherfolk. Meanwhile, the Department of Trade and Industry released loans to micro, small, and medium enterprises, with 22 applications worth PHP5.3 million approved for Iloilo in August alone.
