PIA kicks off Pre-SONA Caravan in Las Piñas

Rayleen Morales

Vice Mayor April Aguilar welcomed the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) as it kickstarted the 2023 Pre-State of the Nation Address (SONA) caravan of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. held in Las Piñas City on May 10.

With the theme, “Nagkaka1sang Bumangon: The 2023 Pre-SONA Caravan,” other city hall officials like City Administrator Reynaldo Balagulan and Public Information Office (PIO) Chief Paul San Miguel also attended the event held at Verdant Covered Court in Barangay Pamplona Tres.

According to PIA, the event aimed to “give various national government agencies a platform to report their accomplishments and share with the Filipino people where we are so far under the leadership of President Marcos as well as bring closer the services of the government to the communities.”

DOH launches

The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Las Piñas City and the Department of Health (DOH) strengthen its fight against measles, rubella, and polio as it implements a supplemental immunization program named “Chikiting Ligtas 2023” from May 2 to 31.

In a Facebook post by the City of Las Piñas, the LGU encouraged its citizens to support the program which aims to “safeguard our children and enhance our city’s overall immunization coverage.”

“As a united community, we must take immediate action to protect ourselves, our children, and the future of our city,” said in the Facebook post.

Different government agencies like Department of Health (DOH), National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Commission on Population and Development (PopCom), and Philippine Cancer Society (PCS) also provided their services through various booths during the event, according to the Las Piñas PIO.

The DOH and PhilHealth booths provided numerous medical assistance, such as free medical check-ups and consultations, vaccinations, health insurance claims, and cancer prevention and awareness.

Meanwhile, the NCRPO conducted medical missions and provided safety tips and materials on crime prevention.

PIA Director General Ramon Cualoping III, Metro Manila Center for Health Development Regional

2023’

The immunization program, which can be found in health centers around the city, offers free vaccines and Vitamin A supplements to children ages 0-59 months old.

Director Aleli Sudiacal, Commission on Population and Development NCR Acting Regional Director Jackilyn Robel, DSWD Spokesperson Romel Lopez, PIA Regional Director Emver Cortez, and DOH Regional Director Dr. Gloria Balboa were also present in the Pre-SONA caravan.

Injected Data

5.3 MILLION

Filipino children have been vaccinated against measles and rubella

In a stakeholders meeting at the DOH Central Visayas Center for Health Development last April 20, the DOH cited the Philippines as one of the top ten countries in the world that has the most unprotected children in terms of vaccine coverage, according to the Public Information Agency (PIA).

In the same meeting, the DOH and its stakeholders introduced Chikiting Ligtas 2023 which aimed to address cases and possible outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, rubella, and polio in the country.