Despite the inclement weather brought by Typhoon Tino, some 4,212 residents from Tanza, Cavite, and nearby areas flocked to the Tanza Municipal Convention Center early Tuesday to avail themselves of free government services during the Lab for All caravan, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) reported.
A flagship initiative of First Lady Atty. Marie Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos, Lab for All offers free dental and medical services, including consultations and laboratory tests such as vital signs check, hemoglobin, fasting blood sugar, electrocardiogram, cholesterol, uric acid, urinalysis, and x-ray.
Beneficiaries also received financial assistance, free medicines, eyeglasses, Bagong Pilipinas Digiboxes, PCSO ChariTimba, and a family box from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
In her message, the First Lady thanked both public and private partners for their continued support and introduced the new Lab for All buses equipped with modern facilities for x-ray, blood extraction, and laboratory testing.
She also urged pregnant women to take advantage of the Unang 1,000 Days program to ensure proper health and nutrition for both mothers and children.
“Sa lahat ng mga public and private partners, maraming, maraming salamat sa inyo. Sama-sama tayong lahat,” she said.
DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla, a native of Cavite, was among the officials who attended the event.
“Mabuhay ang Cavite, mahal na mahal ko kayong lahat,” Remulla said.
Local officials, including Tanza Congressman Crispin Diego “Ping” Remulla and Tanza Mayor Archangelo “SM” Matro, expressed gratitude to the First Family for bringing the program to their municipality.
Among the beneficiaries were senior citizens Mario and Adoracion, who received free eye check-ups, reading glasses, vitamins, and asthma medicines.
“Masaya kami kasi kumpleto na lahat, naasikaso kami ng doctor at nabigyan ng mga libreng gamot, vitamins, at eyeglasses,” said Adoracion.
Another beneficiary, Melissa Commendar, received free maintenance medicines for high blood pressure, as well as financial aid, a PCSO ChariTimba, and a DSWD family box.
Participating agencies included the DILG, DOH, PNP, Tanza City Health Office, BJMP, BFP, Philippine Navy, PhilHealth, Department of Agriculture, PAO, PAG-IBIG, PCSO, DSWD, DSHUD, TESDA, and NHA.
Private sector partners such as Bell-Kenz Pharma Inc., Synetcom Philippines, Inc., Friendly Care Foundation, and the Ophthalmological Foundation of the Philippines also joined the event.
