SOCCSKSARGEN-NPC Latonio and NO II Aurel joined the Regional Inter-agency Committee (RIAC) in the IP Community visit at Sitio Locatong, Brgy. Biangan, Makilala, Cotabato Province last February 21-22, 2018.

The two-day activity aims to collaborate Regional Inter-agency Committee and LGU (Provincial and Municipal) with the Department of Health’s implementation of Adopt-a Community as a Strategy in Reaching the Last Mile: Saan mang sulok, Kalusugan Maabot Populations, that will focus on economically and socially disadvantaged and neglected areas, where development needs are high and where resources are most limited.

Among the target communities which shall be considered as the Last mile populations were: Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas (GIDA), Indigenous People (IP), Institutionalized Population (InsP), Internally Displaced Persons (IDP), the Urban Poor/Street Dwellers and other marginalized groups.

The team had a preliminary meeting and courtesy call to the Provincial Health Officer of Cotabato Province and as well as to the Municipal Mayor of Makilala, Hon. Rudy S. Caoagdan for the IP visit on the first day.

On the second day, the chieftains and the different leaders of the tribal groups (Manobo, Bagobo, Tagabawa) were all gathered for a consultation meeting for the upcoming IP caravan in March 21, 2018.

Each RIAC member agency was given an opportunity to present its respective programs/activities and services to be delivered in the community.

The IP caravan will include delivery of health and support services such as medical check-up and dental services, surgical procedures which will cover some major and minor surgeries. Among which, the caravan will also offer nutrition, health and family planning counselling services among mothers, pregnant women, senior citizens and adolescents in partnership with National Nutrition Council and Commission on Population.

Other services that will be offered is the mobile registration for birth certificates, marriage licenses and others which will be led by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) on which the community can avail accessibly and conveniently.

The team is buoyant that this initiative will reap a two-way positive outcome, which will benefit not only the cause of the committee but in uplifting and improving the lives of the IPs and the community as a whole. (NOIIAurel/NPC Latonio)