BOTOLAN, Zambales (PIA) — About 5,000 Zambaleños received free services and livelihood support during the “Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat para sa Lahat” caravan held at the Botolan People’s Plaza.
The nationwide caravan, which coincided with the 68th birthday of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., aimed to bring government programs directly to communities, serving as a one-stop shop where residents accessed health services, agricultural assistance, job opportunities, scholarships, and other forms of public service.
Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Augusto Dela Peña, highlighted that the initiative demonstrates the government’s intent to deliver services to every family and community.
“Madalas po sabihin ng ating pangulo na ang tunay na layunin ng gobyerno ay maramdaman ito ng bawat barangay, bawat komunidad at bawat pamilya. Ngayong araw isinasagawa natin ang nationwide Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat para sa lahat, so makikita niyo po kung anong mga booths ng different agencies bilang pasasalamat po sa araw-araw ninyong pagtaguyod sa inyong pamilya at komunidad,” he said.
Governor Hermogenes Ebdane Jr. assured continued collaboration with the national government, noting that programs like the fair open opportunities for Zambaleños.
“Bilang punong lalawigan, ako ay hinding-hindi nawawalan ng pag-asa. Sinuportahan ng ating mahal na pangulo, dire-diretso natin yan para maging maganda ang kinabukasan ng ating bayan,” Ebdane said.
Residents lined up for free medical and dental consultations, vaccinations, and health promotion services, availed P20 per kilo rice, farm inputs, and machinery from the Department of Agriculture.
The Department of Labor and Employment facilitated a job fair, while TESDA, CHED, and DepEd provided training vouchers and scholarship opportunities.
For TESDA scholar Tristan Andrei Padua Yap, the program provides valuable support for his education and future work opportunities.
“Nakatanggap po ako ngayon ng certificate of Training sa TESDA ngayon especially yung allowance din and ito pong mga natanggap namin sure po ako na makakatulong ito para sa akin at sa mga trabahong pwede kong pasukan. Pagpatuloy niyo lang po ang ganito niyong ginagawa alam ko na makakatulong kayo sa maraming tao especially sa mga TESDA Training at pagsuporta po sa mga kabataan. Happy birthday po President BBM,” he said.
Other services included national ID registration, civil registry document requests, police and recruitment clearances, business registration, livelihood assistance, and social welfare programs.
The DENR also distributed 1,000 agoho and narra tree seedlings to 13 cities and municipalities of the province.
Local officials and representatives from various agencies joined the activity, reflecting the partnership between the national and provincial governments in providing inclusive and sustainable services to the people of Zambales.
The “Handog ng Pangulo” caravan aims to extend direct and accessible services to Filipinos, especially those in the provinces, as part of the government’s continuing efforts to promote inclusive development. (CLJD/RGP, PIA Region 3-Zambales)
