ILOILO City – Letting people feel that the government is working for them, city hall’s community outreach program “Pag-ulikid sang Syudad” extended help to nearly 10,000 more residents over the weekend in four villages in the districts of Jaro, Mandurriao and City Proper.
Free services that beneficiaries availed themselves included free tooth extraction, health check-up, circumcision, and legal consultation.
Over 3,000 residents in Barangay Sambag, Jaro were served.
“Kay Joe III, gatupa ang serbisyo para sa mga senior citizens. Tanan ari, pati operating room sang syudad,” said Mayor Jose Espinosa III.
In Barangay Benedicto, also in Jaro, some 1,700 gathered for the “Pag-ulikid” services rendered by the City Health Office, Office of Senior Citizens Affairs and City Veterinary Office.
Some residents availed themselves of the services of the City Civil Registry Office, especially those having issues with their birth or marriage certificates.
“Pag-ulikid” also attended to the concerns of solo parents while the elderly with no identification cards or senior citizens’ booklet were issued these, plus wheelchairs to those with mobility problems.
There was also anti-rabies vaccination and issuance of community tax certificate (cedula).
“Ang Pag-ulikid wala may ginabilin. Tanan ara – halin sa mga tigulang, kababainhan kag pigado,” said Espinosa.
In Barangay Rizal Pala-Pala II, City Proper, the program assisted over 1,500 residents while in Barangay Airport, Mandurriao, an estimated 3,000 people were served.
This was the first time in the city’s history that city hall services were directly brought to the people, according Mayor Jose Espinosa III.
“Your Mayor Joe III, together with my Iloilo City Government family, will find the best solutions to the problems our communities are facing. Together let’s make Iloilo City a better place to live in,” said Espinosa.
Identification cards were issued to persons with disabilities (PWDs), on top of free wheelchairs while the youth sector received sports equipment.
According to City Administrator Hernando Galvez, all of the city’s 180 barangays would be covered by “Pag-ulikid.”
The city mayor thought of this program after an encounter with a senior citizen who, because of old age, could not personally go to city hall to secure an identification card.
“Kitaay naman kita para mag-distribute sang ID sang PhilHealth. Ang aton mga pumoluyo – ang aton mga senior citizens – zero billing na. Sulod lang kamo sa government hospitals, wala balayran. Libre,” said Espinosa./PN
