ILOILO City – Inclement weather failed to derail the city government’s community outreach program “Pag-ulikid sang Syudad, Pag-ulikid ni Mayor” in Molo district.
Some 6,000 residents were served in the villages of Boulevard and North Fundidor, plus those from the adjacent barangays of South Baluarte and South Fundidor.
Fifty-one-year-old grandmother Helen Dadivas of Barangay Boulevard brought her two grandchildren to the village gym for free medical checkup.
“Ang mga apo ko napakonsulta ko kay ginaubo. Daku gid nga bulig ini sa akon kay wala man ako obra mo,” said Dadivas.
Her grandchildren received free medicines, too.
Barangay residents availed themselves of free dental and medical services, circumcision, identification cards for senior citizens, anti-rabies vaccination, and legal assistance.
Those with problems with their birth certificates, marriage contracts, etc. got help from the City Civil Registry Office.
At the covered gym of Barangay Boulevard and Barangay North Fundidor, Mayor Jose Espinosa III also distributed wheelchairs and canes to senior citizens and persons with disabilities.
Those suffering from asthma received nebulizers. For the youth and sports enthusiasts, sports equipment were given.
Senior citizen Felly Gapasin of Barangay Boulevard got emotional after her free medical checkup.
Sick and unemployed, the 68-year-old said this was the first time the city government rendered such service to her village.
“Nagahibi ako sa kalipay. First time ini. Ako wala obra, amo na nga nagapasalamat gid ako,” she said.
Senior citizens, persons with disabilities, the sick and the poor are the priorities as they find it hard to go to city hall to avail themselves of city government services, said Espinosa.
“Through, Pag-ulikid we want to make the people feel their city government is really working for them,” he stressed.
This is the first time in Iloilo City’s history that the city mayor’s office is taking itself to the villages “para mabatyagan sang mga pumoluyo nga ara kita nga naga-ulikid,” said Espinosa.
Barangay kagawad Mary Jean Monserate of Boulevard confirmed, “first time nga nagdul-ong sang mga services sa barangay.”
“Nagapasalamat gid ako sa bulig sang syudad sa sini nga barangay,” said Monserate./PN
