The Duterte Administration, through the Office of the Cabinet Secretary, the Presidential Communications Operations Office, and the different agencies under the Human Development and Poverty Reduction Cluster (HDPRC) I such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Education (DepEd), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA),  Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Health (DOH), National Youth Commission (NYC), and the National Anti-Poverty Commission (NAPC), among others,  will be holding a Serbisyo Caravan cum Community Forum with various sectors on August 12 at the Commonwealth Elementary School.

DSWD Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo who chairs the HDPR Cluster I said that this initiative aims to bring the government   closer to the people, and to make government programs and services more accessible to them.  The Cluster I Serbisyo Caravan cum Forum carries the theme Edukasyon, Kalusugan, at Proteksyon.

“This is an opportunity for heads of agencies to communicate with the community members and discuss the programs and services available to them under the leadership of President Duterte.  I believe this is the first time that an inter-agency forum is conducted wherein the Secretaries will report to the community,” Sec. Taguiwalo said.

Aside from the presentation of programs and services and the dialogue, the Cluster 1 member-agencies are also bringing information regarding their core programs and services so that community members can avail of said programs.

The DOH will hold a medical mission;  DepEd will put up an inquiry desk on  its voucher program, Alternative Learning System, and K-12 program; CHED will present its current scholarship program for college students.

Moreover, TESDA will bring its online registration system for those who want to enroll in available vocational courses and skills training. TESDA beneficiaries  will also provide free haircuts and massage therapy for the community members.

For its part, DSWD will showcase its Libreng Gamot Program; Rice Subsidy;  Social Pension;  services for persons with disabilities (PWDs), solo parents;  and, Livelihood Program. It will also distribute information materials on how to avail of senior citizen/ solo parent/and PWD identification cards.

“This is for the Filipino people.  Pres. Duterte is committed to lead a government which shows “tunay na malasakit” (genuine compassion) for the Filipinos, especially for the poor.  And that is the kind of public service to which all agencies abide.  Nais naming iparating sa mga tao kung ano na at ano pa ang gagawin ng ating gobyerno para matulungan sila sa kinakaharap na kahirapan(We would like to tell the people what had been done and what needs to be done by the government to help them move out of poverty),” Sec. Taguiwalo concluded.  #