Over 2,000 residents of this city on Friday availed of various government services with the help of the Presidential Commission on Urban Poor (PCUP).

PCUP Chair Maynardo Sabili and Commissioner Michelle Gonzales both said the activity was in line with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to bring to the people the services of different national government agencies.

Gonzales said 30 government agencies converged at the caravan.

The most sought-after agency was the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

“Isa sa direktiba ni Pangulong Marcos ay iyong pag-push sa Universal Healthcare program. Nais ng Pangulo na lahat ng Pilipino ay magkaroon ng PhilHealth card (One of the directives of President Marcos was to push for the Universal Health Care program. The President wants all Filipinos to have their own PhilHealth cards),” she said.

“Kasama sa ginagawa natin ay information dissemination dahil hindi alam ng iba lalo na iyong mga hindi kasama sa [Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program or 4Ps] na once na maging member ng PhilHealth, ikaw ay assigned na sa isang Konsulta Center. Prevention at initial care ang layunin at kasama rin sa serbisyo ay mga laboratory tests (Part of what we are doing is information dissemination since not everyone knows, especially those who are not part of the 4Ps, about the Konsulta Program. It aims for prevention and initial care, and laboratory tests are also part of the services),” she added.

Other government agencies at the caravan were the Department of Labor and Employment, which conducted a job fair; Philippine Statistics Authority for the Philippine Identification System registration; Department of Trade and Industry for training; Land Transportation Office; Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; and Home Mutual Development (Pag-IBIG) Fund.

The Department of Health provided free dental and other medical services and the Public Attorney’s Office offered free legal and notary services.

The City Veterinary Office provided immunization to pets while the City Agriculture Office distributed seedlings.

The PCUP caravan was held in different provinces, with San Carlos City being the program’s pilot area in the Ilocos Region.

“We are honored to be the pilot area in the region, and the last venue of the PCUP caravan this year,” San Carlos City Mayor Resuello said.

Pangasinan 3rd District Rep. Ma. Rachel Arenas, in an interview, said she requested the holding of the caravan in San Carlos City because it has the biggest population in the district. (PNA)