Samar peace and development caravan draws more than five hundred rural folks

By PIA-Samar
February 19, 2013

CATBALOGAN CITY – More than five hundred rural folks from the four hinterlands of Gandara flocked to the Samar peace and development caravan, Tuesday.

The caravan – a convergence of 20 government agencies ushered programs like medical-dental services, circumcision and free haircut from the police and the army, massage therapy from the TESDA Specialistas and free coconut, mahogany seedlings and vegetable seeds from the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) and Provincial Agriculture.

The PNP also brought their legal counsel to talk about how the criminal justice works and received free legal consultations.

In the same spirit of public service, parents were taught to prepare arroz caldo for their kids with matching free taste test for some 200 children by the Provincial Social Welfare Office.

But the biggest reason for the crowd mostly senior citizens was the medical checkup.

Spouses Agueda and Nemesio Armamento from barangay Natimonan, in their early 60’s said that they hiiked for two hours to avail of the medical checkup.

“Makapa check up gad kami pero dire maka akos han bulong (We may afford to get medical check-up but we can’t buy the medicines prescribed)”, said Agueda.

So that when their barangay chairman informed them of the Samar Peace and Development Caravan, which would bring doctors and dentists for the locals, they took time out from their farm duties packed cooked rice and hiked the three-kilometer distance.

Fernando Tores, 58 from Barangay Pizarro also submitted himself to the free medical checkup for his recurring cough.

“Kinahanglan mabulong ako kay an akon pag uma amo an nasuporta ha akon mga estudyante han hay iskol (I have to be healed because my kids are still studying and my farming sees them through high school)”, he shared.

The caravan was part of the social preparation for Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (PAMANA) projects nearing Gandara leading to Matuguinao town – considered a conflict area.

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) initiated the activity in partnership with the provincial government of Samar and government agencies.