/PNA
BACOLOD CITY — More than 400 residents in four villages of Himamaylan City in southern Negros Occidental benefited from various government services during the Multi-Service Peace Caravan held on Tuesday.
Karen Dinsay, head of the Negros Occidental Scholarship Program Division, who represented the provincial government during the activity, said on Thursday the peace caravan intends to bring basic services right at the doorsteps of Negrenses living in far-flung areas.
“The provincial officials led by Gov. Alfredo Marañon Jr. and Vice Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson believe that we can achieve progress and development if we have peace,” she added.
Those who availed of the services brought by the Provincial Peace Integration and Development Unit (Pro-PIDU) were residents of Barangay Caradio-an, where the caravan was held, as well as those of Barangays Buenavista, Mahalang, and Carabalan.
City officials led by Vice Mayor Carminia Bascon came to support the activity which was a collaborative project of the provincial government with its partner national government agencies and non-government organizations with support from the Philippine Army’s the 62nd Infantry Brigade and the Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office.
During the peace caravan, the residents availed of free medical and dental services from the Provincial Health Office as well as deworming and vaccination activities for animals from the Provincial Veterinary Office.
Personnel of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, along with those from the Department of Agriculture and Department of Environment and Natural Resources, gave lectures on seedling production, distributed seedlings, and conducted consultations.
During the open forums, the residents’ inquiries were also addressed by the participating government agencies, including the Department of Agrarian Reform and the National Commission of Indigenous Peoples, among others.
The residents also received food packs and relief goods afterwards.
The peace caravan was launched by the provincial government in northern Negros in 2013 dubbed as “Marching for Peace, Serving the Countryside.”
The activity initially benefited the residents of the first district, particularly in the remote villages of Escalante City, Calatrava and Toboso, considered as highly-affected by the New People’s Army.
In 2015, the peace caravan of government services was also brought to Barangay Canlusong in E.B. Magalona town.
