Dinagatnons benefit from ‘Handog ng Pangulo’ services
By Renelle L. Escuadro
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — Backing President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s mandate on inclusivity, the “Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat” initiative reached the island province of Dinagat Islands on September 14.
Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev)-Regional Development Group Undersecretary Carlos Bernardo O. Abad Santos, representing President Marcos Jr., led the significant service convergence.
Usec. Abad Santos shared that the President opted to celebrate his natal day by bringing essential services across the country through the Handog ng Pangulo as an acknowledgement of the resilience of the Filipinos amid the economic crisis brought by the Middle East tension, climate change, and the impacts of the El Niño phenomenon, especially in Dinagat Islands, which is currently in a state of calamity.
“Mahirap man ang mga hamon na ating hinaharap, tayong mga Pilipino ay handang magsama-sama at bumangon. Kapag may pagsubok, tayo ay bumabangon. Kapag may problema, tayo ay nagtutulongan,” he said, while inspiring the audience with the Filipinos’ natural grit.
(The current challenges are piercing. However, we Filipinos are ready to stick together and rise up. We stand up in every challenge. We help each other in every problem.)
Meanwhile, the Handog ng Pangulo was supported by the provincial government of Dinagat Islands, led by Governor Nilo P. Demerey Jr. It was also attended by Vice Governor Geraldine B. Ecleo, and joined by DEPDev Caraga Director Gemima A. Olam.
Held at the Capitol dome in Barangay Cuarinta, San Jose, it brought together various government agencies to provide free frontline services, assistance, and programs directly to the people, including the Department of Science and Technology, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), Philippine Coconut Authority, Department of Labor and Employment, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Trade and Industry, PhilHealth, National Irrigation Administration, Department of Information and Communications Technology, Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform, National Bureau of Investigation, Commission on Higher Education, Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, Provincial Veterinary Office, and the Provincial Legal Office.
Medical assistance and healthcare services from the Department of Health, Provincial Health Office, and the Dinagat District Hospital were made accessible at the venue.
Another highlight was the ceremonial turnover of DSWD Caraga’s programs, such as the P900,000 worth of livelihood assistance under the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), and the P581,760 in food assistance through the Supplementary Feeding Program (SFP).
The agency, through its Crisis Intervention Unit, also facilitated the UPLIFT payout, or Unified Package for Livelihoods, Industry, Food, and Transport, benefiting 513 qualified Dinagatnons who each received the amount of P2,000 as cash assistance during an energy emergency.
Also, the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office conducted the rice distribution under the Bagong Pilipinas Rice Program funded under the Local Government Support Fund-Financial Assistance to Local Government Units to beneficiaries from the barangays of Cuarinta and Luna in San Jose town.
The Dinagatnons said, “We feel the love of the government. Thank you, PBBM. Thank you provincial government and all agencies for bringing these essential services to our island province.”
The conduct of Handog ng Pangulo in Dinagat Islands underscored the national government’s commitment to responsive and people-centered governance, while strengthening collaboration between national government agencies and the provincial government in addressing the needs of local communities. (RLE, PIA Dinagat Islands with reports from DEPDev Caraga and Dinagat Islands PIO)
