SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique — More than 600 coconut farmers and their dependents in the municipality of San Remigio benefited from the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) mobile health services, surpassing the agency’s target of 500 beneficiaries during the two-day medical outreach.
PCA Regional Social Worker Head Ellen Arandela-Espada said the medical mission, held at the San Remigio Evacuation Center in Barangay San Rafael, deployed four doctors, five dentists, and two optometrists to provide free healthcare services through Friday.
“The mobile health services form part of the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan for coconut farmers and their dependents,” Arandela-Espada said.
The outreach also brought together 15 offices of the Antique provincial government, including the Integrated Provincial Health Office and the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office, along with several national government agencies offering complementary public services.
Among the participating agencies, the Philippine Army provided free haircuts, while the Philippine Statistics Authority conducted mobile birth registration. The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office also offered case management services for residents seeking assistance through the Aid to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.
San Remigio Mayor Margarito Mission welcomed the initiative, noting that around 70 percent of the town’s 45 barangays are classified as geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs), making access to healthcare a persistent challenge.
“The mobile health services are a big help to my constituents, especially since 70 percent of our barangays are considered geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas,” Mission said.
Among the beneficiaries was 26-year-old Raffy Sagado of Barangay Bagumbayan, who received a medical consultation and free medicines for a respiratory illness.
“I am thankful that I was able to avail of the medical checkup I needed,” Sagado said.
The health caravan is part of the government’s continuing efforts to improve healthcare access for coconut farming communities, particularly those living in remote and underserved areas. (PNA)
