Barangay Batian, a remote village in the Municipality of Maitum in Saragani province received various government services during the recent Lokal Serbisyo Caravan held by the Task Forces on End Local Communist Armed Conflict (ELCAC) of the Region and Province of Sarangani last April 30, 2024.
Together with the Local Government Unit of Maitum, the task forces provided services such as free medical and dental check-ups, medicines, food packs, hygiene kits, free haircut and circumcision, seedlings, slippers, eyeglasses, livelihood assistance, and infrastructure projects with a total of 400 households.
The Lokal Serbisyo Caravan is an anti-insurgency campaign of the national government that actively engages and strengthens communities that have just been freed from military struggle to gradually reduce the influence of local communist groups.
During her speech, DILG XII OIC-Regional Director Atty. Rochelle D. Mahinay-Sero, CESE highlighted the significance of the caravan and the Bagong Pilipinas brand of leadership.
“Para sa kaalaman ng karamihan, ang Lokal Serbisyo Caravan ay isang inisyatiba upang magbigay ng one-stop-shop para sa iba’t ibang serbisyong panlipunan na kailangan ng mga nasasakupan”, she stated.
She re-echoed President Ferdinand R. Marcos' statement from January 2024, in which he urged for unity and putting the people first in order for the Bagong Pilipinas to succeed.
“Isinusulong ang isang Bagong Pilipinas na may prinsipyo, may pananagutan at maaasahang pamahalaan na pinatitibay ng pinag-isang institusyon ng lipunan, na ang layunin ay maisakatuparan ang mga mithiin ng bawat Pilipino”, Director Sero added.
Sarangani Congressman Steve Chiongbian Solon also took the opportunity to advocate for environmental protection and urged the residents to take care of the natural resources to mitigate climate change. He further vowed to provide better government access in the barangay through various infrastructure support.
Meanwhile, Ronda Probinsya Program Director Allen Villamora who represented Governor Ruel D. Pacquiao, turned-over the XRM motorycle to support the barangays’ medical professionals and likewise echoed the provincial government’s commitment to provide accessible and quality government services on behalf of the Governor.
Mayor Reganit and Punong Barangay John Rey Kabulat expressed their gratitude to the Provincial Government of Sarangani and national government agencies for providing the community with a range of services that aid in addressing the problems and worries of the Sarangan people, especially those in Barangay Batian.
The success of the event was made possible by several organizations and agencies, including the Mahintana Foundation, Save the Children, Ronda Probinsya, the Office of the Provincial Vice Governor, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPAG), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) - Maitum, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA), the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), the Land Transportation Office (LTO) - Sarangani, and uniformed personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP), Philippine Army, Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
Also present were DILG Provincial Director Engr. Samuel A. Camaganacan, and other DILG Executive Committee Members and support staff who actively participated during the said event.
