neda1.net - RKCG implements Karaban in Pangasinan

Some of the direct services provided during the Karaban include medical and dental mission, free telephone calls, jobs fair and skills registration, legal clinic, supplemental feeding and lectures on maternal and child health.

The Department of Health provided the medicines for the medical and dental mission with a total cost of P25,000.00. While the medical doctors and nurses of the Provincial Health Office, the Rural Health Unit of Urbiztondo, the Naval Forces North, Philippine Air Force, and other private hospitals and schools gave their medical services for free.

Other indirect services committed by the RKCG member agencies are on education and livelihood with a total cost of P2,123,000.00. The Provincial Government of Pangasinan, on the other hand, committed to deliver programs and projects along education, health, housing, and livelihood and employment with a total cost of P2,596,960.00. The fund of P630,000.00 for the housing program of the Provincial Government of Pangasinan was provided by the Habitat, Philippines.

The Municipal Government of Urbiztondo also allocated a total of P220,000.00 for social services and agricultural development. Non-government organizations as well as the basic sector organizations also contributed by taking care of the mother’s class and free supplemental feeding.

Presidential Assistant Enrie Mendoza and chairperson of the RKCG said “the KALAHI (Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan) was introduced as a flagship program of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to address poverty.” The KALAHI was localized in Region I from the provincial level down to the municipal level through the efforts of the Regional Development Council (RDC) of Region I.

Mendoza added that the RKCG conducts its own KALAHI Karaban across the region, while the local government units, particularly the provincial offices have their own flagship program to address poverty in their respective areas of concern. (RTA)