PGMA CARAVAN, MEDICAL SURGERY MISSION VISITS BILIRAN ON FEB 26-MARCH 3

PIA 8

Tacloban City (February 16) – The Philippine Government Mobile Action led by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation together with the member Government Agencies in cooperation with the Provincial Government of Biliran, will conduct a Medical, Dental and Surgery Mission on February 26 – March 3, 2008 and the regular PGMA Caravan on February 29 at the Provincial Capitol Grounds in Naval, Biliran.

This is in consonance with Administrative Order 159 signed by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Expanding the Reach of the Serbisyo Muna Project to include other priority Regions of the Philippines.

Hon. Remedios L. Petilla, Vice President of PAGCOR-People’s Government Mobile Action Department has scheduled a coordination meeting on February 18, 2008 at 8:00 o’clock in the morning at the Leyte SMED Center in Tacloban City, so that the details of the participation of the various member agencies will be discussed.

Hon. Petilla expressed her hope that as the People’s Government Mobile Action embarks on the provincial mission to Biliran, the member agencies will continue supporting the objective in prioritizing the interests and welfare of the poorest provinces of the Philippines.
The Caravan will be conducted at the Provincial Capitol Grounds of Biliran, the Surgical Activities will be conducted at the Biliran Provincial Hospital while the Medical and Dental Mission will be conducted on February 27 in Kawayan town and on February 28 at the municipality of Caibiran.

Hon. Petilla disclosed that the target beneficiaries include 50 cleft lip/palate medical procedure; 500 ophthalmology patients, 100 minor surgeries and 3,000 medical and dental patients per municipality.

On February 29, will be the Caravan Day where the member agencies will all be in Naval in order to provide their services to the people of the province of Biliran. On this day, A Thanksgiving Mass, Fellowship Night and Medical and Dental Mission will be at the Provincial Capitol Grounds.

On March 1, the PGMA Team will depart for Leyte where a Medical and Dental Mission will be conducted on March 2.

A mandated by AO No. 159, the member agencies will provide their services during the Mission. The National Irrigation Administration will present the proposed projects for 2007-20010. The Department of Public Works and Highways will help in the putting up of streamers, provide dump truck to be used in the setting up of the Caravan and to well-maintain the roads during the activities.

The Department of Education will provide volunteer nurses, dentists and dental aide for the Medical and Dental Mission and will help in identifying cleft lip and cleft palate patients while the Naval Institute of Technology will initiate blood letting activities while Red Cross help in the screening of blood.

The Department of Labor and Employment will do advocacy promotions of its programs and services and will conduct Jobs Fair; the National Food Authority will put up rolling stores during Caravan and Medical Missions; while the Department of Agriculture will distribute planting materials and vegetable seeds, relaunch the Barangay Food Terminal and conduct Rabies awareness advocacy program.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development will put up additional Tindahan Natin; the Philippine Information Agency will provide media coverage and will be responsible for information dissemination; while the Department of Environment and Natural Resources will conduct the distribution of 100 land titles.

The Philippine National Police will be incharged of the security of the area and the entire PGMA team; the Department of Health will put up additional Botika ng Barangay; TESDA will also provide its priority programs to the local constituents; and the Biliran Electric Cooperative will accept queries on the frequent power failures.