A health professional examines one of the Pantawid beneficiaries during the Medical Mission.
A health professional examines one of the Pantawid beneficiaries during the Medical Mission.

About 397 beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program from the Province of Cagayan flocked at the gymnasium of the University of Saint Louis Tuguegarao (USLT) for the free medical and dental services relative to the celebration of their 50th Founding Anniversary on February 15, 2015.

A battery of health professionals catered to the medical needs of the beneficiaries from the municipalities of Amulung, Iguig, Solana, Piat, Tuao, Tuguegarao and Sta.Ana.

“Nagpapasalamat ako at napasama ako upang makinabang sa serbisyong ito”, said Mercedes Canapi, a beneficiary from Amulung, Cagayan.

The medical and dental mission was a project of the University of Saint Louis Tuguegarao Alumni Association Inc. (USLTAA) which aimed at providing community services especially to those who are in need.

The USLT is one of the many academic institutions in the region which has an active partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office II that gives fulfillment to the agency’s thrust of converging with the different sectors for a more effective and efficient implementation of social protection programs and services.

Meanwhile, the Pantawid Pamilya is a human-development program of the national government that invests in the health and education of poor Filipino children aged 0-18 years old. Cash grants are provided to families in exchange of compliance to health and education conditionalities. Parents must also attend the Family Development Sessions.

Presently, there are a total of 98, 059 households beneficiaries in the region. ### By MARICEL B. ASEJO, Information Officer II- Pantawid Pamilya