In a significant outreach effort, more than 2,000 residents of San Carlos City, Pangasinan, took advantage of a wide array of government services offered during a caravan held at the Agdao Mega Complex on November 29, 2024. The initiative, led by the Presidential Commission on Urban Poor (PCUP), was part of a broader directive from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to extend the reach of national government services directly to the public.
PCUP Chair Maynardo Sabili and Commissioner Michelle Gonzales emphasized that the event was designed to fulfill the President’s vision of accessible government services. A total of 30 government agencies participated in the caravan, with the Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth) being the most popular among attendees. Gonzales highlighted the President’s push for the Universal Healthcare program, aiming to ensure every Filipino has a PhilHealth card.
The caravan also served as an educational platform, informing the public about the Konsulta Program, which offers preventive care and initial medical services, including laboratory tests, especially to those not enrolled in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
Other participating agencies included the Department of Labor and Employment, which organized a job fair; the Philippine Statistics Authority for the Philippine Identification System registration; the Department of Trade and Industry for training sessions; the Land Transportation Office; the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority; and the Home Mutual Development (Pag-IBIG) Fund.
The Department of Health provided free dental and medical services, while the Public Attorney’s Office offered free legal and notary services. Additionally, the City Veterinary Office vaccinated pets, and the City Agriculture Office distributed seedlings to promote local agriculture.
San Carlos City was selected as the pilot area for the Ilocos Region for this year’s PCUP caravan, a decision that Mayor Resuello expressed pride in. The choice of San Carlos was influenced by its large population, as noted by Pangasinan 3rd District Representative Ma. Rachel Arenas, who advocated for the city to host the event.