By Chris V. Panganiban
Inquirer Mindanao
SAN FRANCISCO, Agusan del Sur — Distance was no barrier for 73-year-old Medico L. Castro, who traveled miles from the outskirts of Barangay De Oro in Butuan City just to catch a lifeline brought directly to his doorstep.
Castro was among hundreds of rural residents who flocked to the Serbisyo Caravan 2026, an all-in-one outreach drive that transformed the village center into a bustling hub of vital government services, according to the Butuan City Public Information Office (PIO).
For “Tatay Medico,” the journey paid off the moment he received a 5-kilogram sack of rice—a modest staple that means immediate relief for his family’s kitchen table.
“I came from far away, but I am very happy because I received rice for our daily meals,” Castro said in the local dialect.
The caravan brought a wide array of front-line public assistance to remote communities that typically face steep travel costs and long commutes to access basic city services.
Medical teams delivered consultations, free X-rays, eye check-ups, laboratory tests, dental procedures, circumcision (tuli), and mental health services, alongside the local government’s YAKAP program.
Beyond healthcare, residents lined up for legal counseling, pet anti-rabies vaccinations, farmer registration drives, vegetable seed distributions, and even complimentary haircuts and massages.
Frontline bureaucratic agencies set up on-site booths to process essential documentation, including eGovPH digital onboarding, National ID registrations, police clearances, and Social Security System (SSS) inquiries.
According to the Butuan City PIO, the Serbisyo Caravan 2026 was organized under the Joint Regional Task Force to End Local Communist Armed Conflict (JRTF-ELCAC) Enhanced Action Program (EAP) Cluster Initiative, in close coordination with the Regional Peace and Order Council (RPOC) XIII.
The outreach also coincided with the 35th anniversary celebration of the Local Government Code Month spearheaded by the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), highlighting continuing efforts to bridge the gap between state institutions and geographically isolated communities.
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