Caravan of services heads to Naga

CEBU, Philippines — The Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas announced yesterday that more than 16,000 beneficiaries are expected to attend the third leg of Bagong Pilipinas Caravan of Services that will be held in the City of Naga on August 24.

OPAV spokeswoman Atty. Kaye Almeida-Yap said that all of the local government units in the 1st District of Cebu are joining this activity.

Jerome Calatrava, media and public relations head of OPAV, said in a press conference that this event aims to provide essential government services and programs to the constituents of the 1st District.

The caravan will offer social, medical, legal aid services and the like, from 25 participating agencies and offices like the Department of Health, Land Transportation Office, National Bureau of Investigation, among others.

The press conference also highlighted the previous caravans initiated by OPAV and its importance in addressing disparities and enhancing accessibility to vital services.

It also featured presentations on the logistics of the upcoming event, its arrangement and set-up for booths, and how residents can benefit from the services provided.

Yap added that of the 16,000 expected beneficiaries of this event, 9,000 are the beneficiaries of Ayuda para sa Kapos Ang Kita Program (AKAP) wherein each beneficiary will received ?5,000.

AKAP is a social protection program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development that gives cash aid to individuals and families belonging to minimum-wage earners who may have regular income but not enough for their daily subsistence.

Calatrava added that around 500 beneficiaries will also have a payout from the Department of Labor and Employment’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program.

The TUPAD program aims to provide emergency employment and livelihood opportunities to those who have lost their jobs or sources of income due to crises.

The caravan in the City of Naga is the third leg of OPAV-initiated caravan of services and their last in Cebu. Earlier, OPAV conducted the same caravan in Dalaguete and Alegria with an estimated 8,000 beneficiaries from each municipality.

The Bagong Pilipinas Caravan of Services is a flagship initiative aimed at bringing essential government services closer to communities nationwide. By directly engaging with communities, the program seeks to bridge the gap between the government and the people, making public services more accessible, especially in underserved areas.

The caravan is being carried out in collaboration with various government agencies, local government units, and private sector partners. — (FREEMAN)