Puerto residents benefit from “Lingkod Timog”
MORE THAN 2,000 indigenous people and local residents of Barangay Cabayugan and Tagabinet in Puerto Princesa City received free medical services in a two-day medical mission conducted by the “Lingkod Timog”, a Rhode Island, USA-based humanitarian group that conducts charitable, cultural, educational, medical and life-enrichment activities in the needy areas in the Philippines.The medical mission, held February 26 and 27, offered free circumcision, eye examination, dental services, medical treatment and minor surgical operations.Working collaboratively, the “Lingkod Timog” team was joined by personnel from the Western Command (WESCOM); the City Government of Puerto Princesa; the City Police Office (CPO); Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR); and the Barangay health workers of the beneficiary barangays and volunteers from several non-government organizations. This undertaking is part of the AFP’s Internal Peace and Security Plan “Bayanihan”, where stakeholders participate in winning the peace.A feeding program for the children and a lecture on violence against women were also conducted as part of the humanitarian activity. Mosquito nets were also distributed while those already owned by the residents of Barangay Cabayugan were either treated or replaced to help the people avoid contracting malaria, a viral disease caused by the bite of a carrier mosquito. A blood smear procedure to determine whether a patient has malaria was also offered.WESCOM Commander Lt. Gen. Juancho M. Sabban expressed his gratitude to the Lingkod Timog team, headed by Retired Navy Captain Doy Heredia, for offering their free services for the welfare of the residents of Barangay Cabayugan and Tagabinet. (6