ILOILO City – An estimated 8,000 residents benefitted from various city government services during the launching of the “Pag-ulikid sang Syudad” program in the villages of San Juan, Molo and Tanza Baybay, City Proper on Saturday.
The services included free tooth extraction, health check-up and circumcision, and free legal consultation, said City Administrator Hernando Galvez.
Some residents availed themselves of Civil Registrar services, said Galvez, especially those having issues with their birth or marriage certificates.
The “Pag-ulikid sang Syudad” program also attended to the concerns of solo parents and the elderly such as having no identification cards or senior citizens’ booklet.
There was also anti-rabies vaccination and issuance of community tax certificate (cedula), said Galvez.
Mayor Jose Espinosa spearheaded the program’s launching. “Pag-ulikid” is basically letting the people feel that the government is working for them, he explained.
This was the first time in the city’s history that city hall services were directly brought to the people, according to Galvez.
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, he revealed.
“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.
According to Galvez, the city mayor issued an executive order institutionalizing the “Pag-ulikid” program that would be regularly held on weekends.
All of the city’s 180 barangays would be covered, he said.
“Pag-ulikid”, however, would likely go “full swing” after the barangay election this May 14, stressed Galvez.
“We don’t want this program tainted with politics,” he explained.
San Juan, Molo barangay captain Juanito Enojado said he was glad “Pag-ulikid” was brought to his village. It helped his constituents, he said, especially the elderly.
Just this April 10 Espinosa, wanting to bring the services of city hall and his office closer to the people, held office at the Liga ng mga Barangay – Jaro chapter office at Jaro Plaza.
“People must see that the city government is functioning and their mayor is working,” said Espinosa.
At the Jaro Liga office, he received visitors. He reviewed and signed documents, and officiated a civil wedding.
He also had a meeting with barangay health workers, barangay service point officers and barangay nutrition scholars.
Espinosa, too, announced a P500 increase in the monthly P2,000 honorarium of barangay health workers and barangay service point officers.
He said he would regularly hold office at the Liga ng mga Barangay – Jaro chapter office every Tuesday.
On other days, he said he planned to hold office in the districts of Molo, Mandurriao and Arevalo./PN
