Ang Pahayagan

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — First Lady Louise “Liza” Araneta-Marcos led the Bagong Pilipinas “LAB for All” Caravan here on Tuesday to bring primary health care services to residents from underserved communities and vulnerable groups around the Subic Bay Freeport.

LAB for All, which stands for “Laboratoryo, Konsulta, at Gamot Para sa Lahat,” was launched in May 2023 as a government initiative to bring comprehensive health services nationwide, with onsite assistance from government agencies and private support groups.

Residents receive free eye checkup during the Bagong Pilipinas “LAB for All” Caravan in the Subic Bay Freeport.

Accompanied by Department of Health (DOH) Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, Mrs. Marcos directed the multi-agency effort that also involved primary agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Agriculture (DA), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), and Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth).

Among those who welcomed Mrs. Marcos were Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Eduardo Jose L. Aliño, Olongapo City Mayor LenJ Paulino, Zambales 2nd District Representative Doris Maniquiz, Zambales Board Member Jun Rundstedt Ebdane, Bataan Governor Joet Garcia, Pampanga Governor Lilia Pineda, and BCDA Director Rolen Paulino.

The medical mission, Mrs. Marcos said, highlighted the government’s commitment to bring services directly to the people, as well as the need for public-private partnership in providing adequate health care.

About 1,500 patients from the nearby communities of Olongapo City, Subic, Castillejos, San Marcelino and San Antonio in Zambales, as well as Morong, Hermosa, and Dinalupihan towns in Bataan trooped to the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center (SBECC) here to avail of free consultation and medical services. These included 300 employees of the SBMA.

The services offered by various agencies and private healthcare providers included electrocardiogram and heart checkup, X-ray, eye checkup, dental services, pap smear test, e-health diagnostic services, as well as minor surgery like excision and incision biopsy.

Medical distributors like Synetcom Philippines, meanwhile, gave away medicines and vitamin supplements to residents.

Aside from providing medical services, government agencies also set up booths at the SBECC to assist caravan beneficiaries through various support programs.

The DA, through its Agricultural Training Institute in Central Luzon, provided information on its Agri Extension on Wheels program; OWWA addressed queries from OFWs and their families, and distributed program checks; while the Senate Public Assistance Office (SPAO) gave 50 guarantee letters for medical and social assistance services under its Senate Assist program.

This was the second time for a LAB for All Caravan to be held in Subic. The first one held here in May 2024 also benefitted some 1,500 patients from communities near Subic Bay. (Taktikom News and Features)