More than 1,000 residents of Malinao town in Albay province benefited from a one-day medical and livelihood mission conducted by the Ako Bicol (AKB) Party-list on Friday.

In an interview, AKB Representative Raul Angelo Bongalon said the mission dubbed “Tarabangan Caravan” was conducted in Barangay Jonop to provide various services as part of the priority programs of AKB led by Rep. Elizaldy Co.

“We are giving the people the medical services they need. We want to ensure that everyone can have free access to what the government can give to different sectors in the community. The activity is only a part of the series of medical and dental missions that are already scheduled by the party-list throughout the Bicol region,” Bongalon said.

He said that aside from the medical and dental mission, AKB allocated enough funds to different private hospitals in the province to lessen the hospital bills of those admitted.

“We want to dispel this notion that when it is a private hospital, it is expensive. In order not to discourage the public from seeking medical attention from private hospitals, we give attention by allocating funds to it. AKB is here to support and provide assistance,” Bongalon said.

Wilfredo Casia, Jonop barangay captain, in his message, thanked the AKB for the assistance.

“This is a big help for all of us. Health is very important to everyone. With this mission, we save a lot from our budget, from the transportation cost, checkups, and doctors’ fees up to the medicines, not to mention the free laboratories you also offered, so thank you so much AKB,” he said.

Apart from the medical and dental services, job fairs, free massages, haircuts, manicures and pedicures, entertainment for children and free meals and bread were also provided to the residents.

AKB targets over 13,000 residents in the six provinces of the Bicol region to be catered to by the caravan for 2024. (PNA)