Around 200 Indigenous People (IP), elderly, persons with disability, and residents of Barangay Sto. Tomas, Barotac Viejo received free health services during the Civil Service Commission Regional Office VI (CSC RO VI) Medical Mission on September 7, 2024 at Brgy. Sto. Tomas Gymnasium, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo.
Most of the beneficiaries came from Sitio Kabarangkalan of the said barangay, a one-hour walk from the venue. Medical practitioners and volunteers coming from government agencies and a non-government organization provided medical consultations, x-ray and laboratory screenings, dental cleaning and extraction, medicines, dental kits, food packs, and other freebies to the beneficiaries.
The Medical Mission, spearheaded by the CSC RO VI with its partners, is one of the activities in celebration of the 124th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary (PCSA) in the region this September, highlighting the importance of malasakit sa kapwa.
In the Opening Program, Municipal Mayor Nielo C. Tupas of Barotac Viejo and CSC RO VI Regional Director Nelson G. Sarmiento delivered their messages to the beneficiaries and stakeholders. On the other hand, 2024 Presidential Lingkod Bayan Regional Awardee and Semi-finalist in the Search for Outstanding Government Workers, Ann Rapunzel Ganzon of the Iloilo Provincial Government, also showed her support during the Medical Mission.
The said activity capped with the distribution of tokens and Certificates of Appreciation to the following partner agencies, as the CSC RO VI recognized their efforts and volunteerism:
- National Commission on Indigenous Peoples
- Iloilo Provincial Government
- Iloilo Provincial Health Office
- Iloilo City Government
- Department of Health Center for Health Development Western Visayas
- Municipal Government of Barotac Viejo
- Municipal Government of Lambunao
- Municipal Government of Oton
- Municipal Government of Calinog
- Municipal Government of Leon
- Municipal Government of Cabatuan
- Municipal Government of Tigbauan
- West Visayas State University Medical Center
- Western Visayas Medical Center
- North Star Kapwa Kalinga Foundation, Inc.
Ronnie Elosendo, Chieftain of the IP Community, expressed his appreciation to the organizers for the services given to them. He said that the Medical Mission was a big help to their community.
