Lim brings services closer to Tondo folk

AS part of his continuing efforts to bring the services of city hall at the doorstep of Manila's poor residents, Mayor Alfredo S. Lim yesterday graced the Lingap ng Inang Manilenyo outreach and medical program for Tondo residents.

Along with the various free services offered at the Vitas Covered Court in Capulong, Road 10, a 'Barangay Ugnayan' was also held to address the problems besetting the area.

Aside from Lim, those who led the simultaneous events included the mayor's daughter and LIM executive director Cristy, Manila Police District director Chief Supt. Alex Gutierrez, traffic bureau chief Col. Reynaldo Nava, Councilor Niño dela Cruz, city engineer Armand Andres, satellite office head Romy dela Vega, Manila health department chief Dr. Benjamin Yson and chairman Saturnino Gruta, who all answered queries from the residents and attended to their needs that can be provided by the outreach program and medical mission.

LIM is a women's organization which helps implement the city's pro-poor programs especially for the kids and the elderly.

In addressing some 1,000 beneficiaries of the twin events, Lim told the residents: "Sa pamama-gitan ng mga ganitong aktibidad, di na kayo kailangang gumastos ng pamasahe papuntang city hall dahil city hall na ang pupunta sa inyo."

It was learned from deputy mayor Joey Silva, who is also the overall coordinator, that the services being provided on a weekly basis include a wide array of free services including dental and medical, blood pressure check, general and eye check-up, X-ray, haircut and even massage, provision of free residence certificates and processing of identification cards for senior citizens so they can avail of all discounts due them in private establishments.

Silva said the same activity also provides free take home medicines and vitamins as well as free services for the residents' pets such as check-up and vaccination for anti-rabies as veterinarians are also on hand aside from the regular doctors, nurses and health volunteers provided by the Manila health and the six city-run public hospitals.

In his short message, Lim, who was wildly received and cheered on by the residents both adults and children alike, advised them to have themselves checked by the doctors in the city-owned hospitals the moment they feel something unusual and not wait for their condition to get worse before seeking treatment, stressing that the check-up and treatment are all free.

Lim said the city government is aware that there are a lot of residents needing immediate treatment and medicines in their area but cannot afford them or do not have the money to spend on transportation so they can go to the city hospitals, which is why the city is the one visiting and extending the services to them.

According to Silva, even while Lim has built one hospital offering free treatment for each of the city's six districts, there are some who cannot leave home either because they lack transportation money or cannot leave behind their children in their respective homes, so that bringing the doctors right in the barangays give these residents the opportunity to get their much-needed check-up and treatment. - manila.gov.ph — ARA