The Northern Samar provincial government will provide services to at least 1,122 poor families in Laoang town in its service caravan on February 29.

The provincial government said the first caravan this year would cover the farming villages of Catigbian, Sibunot, Gibatangan, Yabyaban, Palmera, Cabagngan, and Cabulaloan, all in the municipality of Laoang.

Provincial social welfare and development officer Jenny Darish said this is the 21st Kauswagan (progress) caravan since its launch in 2019.

“These communities, all agricultural and situated along the river and by the mountainside, are eager to be reached by government services and receive any form of support from other stakeholders, including well-meaning individuals, organizations, and private partners, which has been the call of Governor Edwin Ongchuan,” Darish said in a statement Wednesday.

Participating agencies and partners have committed to delivering services ranging from free medical consultations, school supplies, farm tools, veterinary services, haircuts, circumcisions, legal and career counseling, among others.

In 2023 alone, the Kauswagan caravan program, participated in by some 100 partner agencies, non-government and private organizations, reached 11,381 families from 47 villages in the province.

The service caravan is one of the flagship programs of the province, aimed at bringing government services closer to the people.

The program is also in support of Executive Order No. 70, which institutionalizes the whole-of-nation approach to end local communist armed conflict in the country. (PNA)