By Dolly Yasa
BACOLOD CITY — Hundreds of Barangay Macagahay residents, the most isolated village in Moises Padilla, are expressing their gratitude after the local government unit delivered various services to their area Monday.
Barangay Macagahay, situated in the town’s upland region and near the boundary between Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental via Guihulngan City, often leaves its residents disconnected from vital resources.
Bernardina Apable, 60, emphasized the benefit of local services, noting the high cost and inconvenience of travel to the town for medical consultations. “With the free consultation and medicine, I am saved from the long motorcycle ride to the Municipal Health Office,” she said.
Claridad Flores, a mother of three, learned of her high blood pressure during a check-up provided by the outreach program and received maintenance medicine from Municipal Health Office personnel.
Moises Padilla Mayor Ella Celestina D. Garcia-Yulo stressed that delivering services to the townspeople, especially those in remote areas, is a key priority. “The government should go to the people because it is by and for the people,” Garcia-Yulo said.
The outreach included more than medical and dental assistance; it featured services from various government agencies such as the Philippine Statistics Authority and the National ID program. The local Agriculture office also conducted livestock registration and deworming.
The mayor plans to extend similar services to other outlying barangays and has engaged in dialogues with residents of several sitios to address their specific needs.
Moreover, Garcia-Yulo highlighted that Barangay Macagahay, and the town at large, will greatly benefit from the re-establishment of the Negros Island Region. It will enable the development of a road network connecting both provinces through the barangay.
Accompanying the mayor were town councilors Vincent Garcia and Romulo Fajardo, as well as her husband, Felix Matias Segundo Yulo.
