MORE than 1,800 Bicolano’s yesterday joined the National Housing Authority’s (NHA) People’s Caravan dubbed “Serbisyong Dala ay Pag-asa” at Don Alfonso Bichara Community Complex in Bgy. Anislag, Daraga, Albay.

The caravan, an initiative of NHA general manager Joeben A. Tai, is offering a variety of comprehensive government services and programs closer to family beneficiaries at resettlement sites and neighboring communities.

The opening ceremony was led by NHA assistant general manager Alvin S. Feliciano, as a representative of NHA GM Tai, together with NHA Region V Office officer-in-charge engineer Rolando G. Ramos, NHA Albay/ Catanduanes District manager engineer Teodora G. Bandojo, chief of staff Joseph Yap on behalf of 2nd district of Albay Congressman Joey S. Salceda, Albay Gov. Edcel Greco A.B. Lagman and Daraga acting Mayor Gerry Raphael Z. Jaucian Jr..

“Ito po ay ginagawa ng NHA, sa liderato ni GM Tai, upang ilapit talaga ‘yung serbisyo ng gobyerno sa tao. Dahil bukod sa pabahay, gusto namin mabigyan sila ng bagong buhay,”said Feliciano.

The beneficiaries participated in the services offered by the Department of Health (DOH)/Bicol Center for Health Development, Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Commission on Population and Development (CPD), Daraga Municipal Health Office, and Albay Provincial Health Office that provided free medical/dental missions, chest x-ray, eye check-up, deworming activity, free haircut and medicines; and orientation on responsible parenthood and family planning.

Job seekers were also accommodated in the job fair conducted by the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Daraga Public Employment Service Office (PESO) and Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), while the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) facilitated an orientation on OFW programs and services.

The activity also brought various livelihood programs, skills enhancement and entrepreneurship training, business and capital consultancy, and scholarship programs from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), and Commission on Higher Education (CHEd).

Beneficiaries were also given the opportunity to apply for the national ID and other civil registry services like processing of birth certificate, death certificate, certificate of no marriage record (CENOMAR), marriage certificate and PSA Serbilis Application with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and Daraga Municipal Civil Registry Office; membership registration and Loyalty Card issuance by the Pag-IBIG Fund; membership and issuance of PhilHealth ID; processing of police and NBI clearances courtesy of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the National Bureau of Investigation; as well as driver’s license application and renewal through the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

Affordable farm-to-market products were also sold at the event through the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) KADIWA program. They also distributed free seeds and seedlings in partnership with Albay Provincial Agriculture Office.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) provided the event with free onsite internet and wi-fi while the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) conducted free legal consultation and notary services.

Since its launch in 2023, the NHA People’s Caravan: “Serbisyong Dala ay Pag-asa” has been a resounding success nationwide.

Through strong partnerships with both the public and private sectors, the caravan has made significant strides in building sustainable communities for a Bagong Pilipinas.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Jun I. Legaspi