PGMA’S SERBISYO MUNA! PROJECT OPENS THE YEAR
WITH CARAVAN IN NAVOTAS

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s highly-successful Serbisyo Muna! Project presents its opening salvo for 2006 as it brings its Serbisyo Muna! Caravan to the City of Navotas, today, January 13, 2006.

The Serbisyo Muna Project is an all-encompassing endeavor which brings together the various socio-civic and community development efforts of the National Government, the local government units, the private sector as well as the non-government groups. One of its major programs is the Serbisyo Muna caravan, a one-day event highlighted by the provision of basic social services direct to the people.

The President is expected to join the caravan, which shall be held at the San Jose Parish Church.

“All of us involved in the Serbisyo Muna are guided by the same idea that public service is a never-ending commitment,” said PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Efraim C. Genuino, the over-all project head of the Serbisyo Muna Taskforce.

“Proof of this is our Serbisyo Muna caravan. We are already conducting our seventh, but we are still far from over,” he added.

Meanwhile, Jeannie Sandoval, wife of Navotas-Malabon Representative Federico Sandoval, expressed her excitement about the Serbisyo Muna project.

“Serbisyo Muna! is a brilliant project that brings awareness to the community about the different services of the government,” she said. “The caravan, meanwhile, centralizes activities so if people have questions or concerns, they can come and ask around. All the different departments are here, all the pertinent information about projects concerning them and their community can be obtained here as well.”

“Through the caravan, the public sees for themselves how their government is working constantly for community progress. That is one of the notable things about this activity. At the same time, all these projects are continuous. It isn’t like a one-time only showcase,” she added.

One of the major highlights of the Serbisyo Muna caravan is the free medical and dental mission to be conducted by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR), the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), the Department of Health-NCR (DoH-NCR) and representatives from the Navotas City Health Office, Philippine National Police, Department of Education and Manila Doctors’ Hospital.

Meanwhile, President Arroyo will award licenses to operate Botika ng Barangay outlets to six barangays and one NGO. The President shall be assisted by Representative Federico Sandoval and his wife, Jeannie, Office for Political Coalition Affairs head Berna Romulo-Puyat and DOH Undersecretary Margarita Galon.

Next, President Arroyo will lead the ceremonial distribution of Philhealth cards to identified beneficiaries with Philhealth Vice-president for NCR Operations Rodolfo Balog and after which, shall award one kilo of rice each to Grade One pupils from the Navotas Elementary School under the DepEd’s Food for School Program. Representing the DepEd is Officer-in-Charge Fe Hidalgo and Director Thelma Santos.

The President will also witness the Supplemental Feeding Program of the DSWD which will benefit 30 pre-schoolers from the Bagong Bayan Elementary School. On the other hand, the Passport on Wheels program of the Department of Foreign Affairs will be making its debut during the caravan and give Navotas residents the chance to secure their passports at the mission site. The President is expected to help distribute processed passports together with DFA Asec. Domingo Lucenario and OPCA’s Puyat who will represent DFA Secretary Alberto Romulo.

Aside from these activities, the PCSO shall donate one ambulance to the municipality of Navotas while PAGCOR will turn over a brand new Toyota Altis mobile patrol unit to the PNP. There will be livelihood seminars and free demonstrations to be conducted by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA); lectures on energy conservation and road ethics from the Department of Energy (DOE) and Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC); as well as distribution of information materials from the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Meralco, Manila Waterworks and Sewerage System and the Training and Livelihood Resource Center (TLRC).

Three micro-finance institutions will be making a presentation on micro-lending while the Department of Agriculture (DA) will be distributing grafted mangoes and assorted vegetable seeds for residents. The National Food Authority (NFA), meanwhile, will be deploying a total of 16 rolling stores all around Navotas, two of which will be assigned at the mission site to sell lower-priced commodities.

Furthermore, the DPWH and Meralco will be conducting a beautification drive in the nearby areas while the Serbisyo Muna! Assistance Center Booth will be put up to answer queries and to extend free legal assistance to for interested residents.
Finally, there will also be a showcase of marine fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP) products by Stone Works Specialists International Corporation. Sample products on display will be their FRP Aquaculture Tank, FRP Serisan Banca and Multi-Purpose Crate (Fish Crate).

PGMA's visits BASECO, Manila

PGMA’S SERBSIYO MUNA CARAVAN VISITS BASECO

The Serbisyo Muna! project of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and the local government of the City of Manila, today, join hands in bringing much-needed basic social services to the residents of the BASECO Compound as part of the highly-successful Serbsiyo Muna! Caravan series.

As in previous caravans, the Serbisyo Muna! continues to bring vital services directly to the people, namely: a free medical and dental mission; seminars on livelihood training, road ethics, energy conservation, urban gardening and values education; supplemental feeding for day care center children; an information and complaint desk; free legal assistance and birth registration; deployment of rolling stores; distribution on information materials on various subjects; deployment of rolling stores; distribution of Philhealth cards; and many more.

“The caravan in BASECO is already the eighth we have done so far,” said PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Efraim C. Genuino, the over-all project coordinator of the Serbisyo Muna.

“With this event, we bring all the respective socio-civic projects of the various government agencies and units in one location. It is in line with the directive of the President to fast-track the delivery of basic needs and services to the people,” he explained.

Meanwhile, the local government of Manila, under the leadership of Mayor Lito Atienza, shall also be showcasing its own programs for its constituents in terms of health, education, legal assistance, housing, and peace and order.

The medical and dental mission organized by the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), PAGCOR, the Philippine National Police NCR-Police Office, Department of Health, and LGU-Community Health Organization is expected to benefit 3,000 to 5,000 patients while the Supplemental Feeding Program to be conducted by the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the LGU will serve 200 schoolchildren.

Another of the major highlights of the caravan is the inspection of the elevated water tank donated by PAGCOR to the LGU as part of the government’s Patubig Livelihood Project. The Patubig project, which is an on-going endeavor of PAGCOR in cooperation with the Manila Waterworks and Sewerage system, Maynilad and Manila Water, give communities an alternative source of income through the resale of water.

Also, Philhealth cards shall be awarded to 495 beneficiaries. The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), meanwhile, will be conducting livelihood demonstrations and its array of free services to benefit residents in the BASECO compound. The Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) and Department of Energy (DOE) will also be conducting their own respective seminars on Road Ethics and Energy Conservation while the Philippine Information Agency (PIA), Meralco, MWSS and TLRC will be distributing information materials on various interesting topics.

Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture (DA) will be distributing assorted vegetable seeds so that residents can plant them in their own backyard and make them an alternative source of livelihood. The National Food Authority (NFA) will be deploying rolling stores all around the area, two of which will be assigned at the mission site to sell lower-priced commodities like rice, noodles, sardines, coffee, sugar, etc. The DPWH will initiate a beautification drive and clearing program in the nearby areas while the Serbisyo Muna! Assistance Center Booth will be put up to answer queries and to extend free legal assistance to interested residents.
The Serbisyo Muna! Project is an all-encompassing effort by the National government, private sector representatives and non-government groups where vital social services are made affordable and accessible to the people, especially those who are in most need.