Since its launching last August, the Makati Lingkod Bayan Caravan has served over 3,500 residents in four barangays as of the end of September.
For the rest of the year it will go to Brgy. Bangkal on October 22; Brgy. San Isidro on November 5; Brgy. Pitogo on November 19; Brgy. Carmona on December 3; and Brgy. Pembo on December 10. Registration starts at 7 a.m., and the caravan closes around noon.
In a statement, Mayor Abby Binay said the caravan directly serves the residents of Makati. “We encourage our residents to come when the caravan is in their barangay to enjoy a variety of free services without their having to go to city hall,” she said.
Meanwhile, La Union Gov. Francisco Emmanuel Ortega III launched during his 100th day in office a package of basic services for La Union’s 576 barangays.
The package, dubbed “I love La Union, I love my Barangay,” comprised medical and dental consultation, supplemental feeding, livelihood training, cooking seminar, distribution of vegetables seeds, anti-rabies vaccination, free legal consultation, and other services.
Scheduled twice in a month, the Makati caravan is a one-stop-shop offering a wide range of services for free from city hall offices, together with the JCBinay Foundation and other partner-NGOs.
Free services offered include medical, dental and eye check-ups, blood sugar screening, x-ray, ECG, medicines, legal advice and services, processing of birth certificates and similar documents. A feeding program is also held for undernourished children, while free massage and hair cutting services are also made available. Pet owners can also bring their dogs and cats for free anti-rabies vaccination.
Binay said the caravan has reached the barangays of Pio del Pilar, Guadalupe Viejo, Pinagkaisahan and Valenzuela. Over 1,200 availed themselves of free medical consultations, and many of them were able to undergo free blood sugar screening, X-ray and ECG.
Free dentures were given to over 100 patients, and 530 were given reading glasses. Free haircut and massage services were both bestsellers to residents of all ages and genders, with more than 500 clients each.
Young residents numbering over 500 participated in the learning camp and other youth-oriented activities, and enjoyed free meals. They also received free books and toys, courtesy of partner-NGOs. Free pet vaccination was also a hit among pet owners, with 456 dogs and cats vaccinated.
Aside from the free services, residents can also pay their utility bills because Bayad Center, Manila Water and Meralco set up payment centers in every caravan.
The caravan also processes applications or renewals of Yellow Card, BLU Card, White Card and PhilHealth registration by the Makati Social Welfare Department.
Processed during the first four stops of the caravan were 127 Yellow Cards, 81 birth certificates and similar documents, 172 PhilHealth memberships, 39 solo parent cards and nine PWD cards.