The Indigenous Peoples (IPs) and officials in Brgy. Bayanan, Baco, Oriental Mindoro extend their gratitude to the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) for its Barangay Forum held on Wednesday, September 25, 2024.
The forum, in partnership with the Social Security System (SSS), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), and PagIBIG Fund, benefited the residents from their services and also raised awareness about social security benefits, health insurance, and housing programs available to the IPs.
Henry C. Hernandez, an IP senior citizen, thanked PIA for bringing the national government agencies to their area.
“Malaking pasasalamat ko po sa PIA dahil hindi lamang kami nalinawan kung ano ang PIA, sobra pa kaming nagagalak at kami ay napansin din. Ang aming barangay ay malayo sa lungsod ng Calapan at malayo sa mga serbisyo ng pamahalaan kaya salamat po sa PIA,” Hernandez said.
Rosalia Deliswis, one of the IP-participants, said that PIA’s barangay forum provided not only accurate information, but also brought to them government services of its partner-agencies.
“Nasagot po ng PhilHealth ang mga katanungan ko at ito po ay dahil sa programa na ito ng PIA. Hindi lamang po sila nagpapaabot ng impormasyon sa amin kundi sila rin po ay instrumento upang makapunta rin dito sa aming barangay ang serbisyo ng SSS, PhilHealth at PagIBIG,” she said.
In his welcome remarks, Barangay Chairman Nitoy A. Remnayon also expressed his gratitude for choosing Bayanan as one of the barangays of the said forum.
“Higit po akong nagpapasalamat sa PIA dahil sa serbisyo ninyo sa aming barangay. Nawa’y hindi lamang po ito ang huling pagpunta ninyo dito at malaking tulong po ito sa mga katulad naming malayo sa bayan,” Remnayon said.
Meanwhile, PIA MIMAROPA Regional Head Jemin B. Guillermo delivered a message underscoring the forum’s purpose.
Guillermo emphasized that the initiative aims to bring government services and programs directly to the grassroots level, ensuring that communities, particularly Indigenous Peoples, have access to essential government programs and resources.
She also highlighted the importance of collaboration between the Philippine Information Agency and partner agencies in fostering awareness and promoting empowerment among local residents.
The PIA’s Barangay Forum is a vital initiative of PIA MIMAROPA Region designed to extend free government services to grassroots communities, especially in remote and underserved areas. (AS/PIA MIMAROPA-Oriental Mindoro)
