HUNDREDS of people from different barangays in Lapu-Lapu City availed themselves of free medical checkup and legal aid, among other government services, as the Bayan Babangon Muli (BBM) caravan of government services kicked off in the city on Saturday, July 15, 2023.
Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (Opav) Secretary Terence Calatrava said they intend to add more services as they bring the caravan to other parts of the Visayas.
Opav Assistant Secretary Antonio Veloso Jr. said they plan to include “libreng tuli” (circumcision) during the next caravan, in addition to the free haircut, dental services, medical check-up and legal aid they offered in Lapu-Lapu City in partnership with the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center, the Philippine Army Task Group Cebu and some private companies.
The attendees also took advantage of the free feeding program for children and the distribution of backpacks to 200 elementary school students in partnership with the Tingog Partylist. They also got a five-kilo sack of rice.
The activity held at the Lapu-Lapu City Sports Complex was graced by Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan and the Opav officials.
In an interview, Veloso said they target to bring the services to Bacolod for the Caravan’s next stop.
Rosales Espina, 32, of Sitio Paradise in Barangay Pajo, said she was glad the officials chose Lapu-Lapu residents as some of the program’s beneficiaries. It is a big help for families like them who struggle just to meet their daily needs.
“Dako na kaayo ni ug tabang namo ang bugas, labi na sa kalisud karon. Dili mi makakaon ug katulo sa usa ka adlaw,” she said after receiving a sack of rice. (This is a big help for people like us in these difficult times. We can barely eat three times a day.)
One of the children of Rutchel Nedamo, 29, of Sitio Kamansi, Barangay Pajo, has been down with fever for the past three days, but she could not take her child to the doctor as she did not have money. She was happy to learn there were doctors who offered free medical consultation during the caravan.
Her children also received free bags, which they can use for the next school year.
The BBM Caravan was first launched on May 21 in Barangay Canamucan, Compostela town in northern Cebu.
Calatrava said then that the caravan will go to different parts of the Visayas to bring government services closer to people.