LEGAZPI CITY – The “Tarabangan Caravan” of Ako Bicol (AKB) Party-List slated this year which will offer a series of medical-dental missions is expected to benefit some 13,000 residents of the six provinces of the Bicol Region..
AKB media relations officer Sally Luces said the caravan is part of the priority programs of AKB and President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to help provide health services to the people.
“This is a priority program of the Ako-Bicol Party-List led by Rep. Elizaldy Co giving the services of the government closer to the people, particularly those who are in far-flung areas in the region,” Luces said, adding that they are now preparing the schedules of the 22 Tarabangan Caravan target sites in various parts of the region.
“We target at least 600 per activity for fellow Bicolanos who need to have access to health services. They will not spend money for check-ups and they can get free medicines,” Luces said.
Apart from the medical and dental services, job fairs, free massages and haircuts and provision of livelihood assistance will also be part of the activities.
For 2023, over 6,000 Bicol residents benefited from the AKB Tarabangan Caravan. “Last year the Caravan delivered medical services to some 6,116 residents tn the towns of Manito, Camalig, Malilipot, Anislag, Sto. Domingo, Guinobatan, some parts of Legazpi City in Albay; and several population centers in Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur and Masbate),” Luces said.
In a statement, Co, who chairs the House Committee on Appropriations, hailed the success of the Tarabangan Caravan as a reflection of the AKB’s commitment to serving the people and the community.
“Bicolanos can hope that the Ako Bicol Party-List will further expand this program so that more people can be reached and given medical services. The caravan proves that reaching out and helping those in need, especially in remote areas, is possible and effective in improving the health and livelihood of communities,” Co said. (PNA)
