Over 2,000 availed the program
(PHOTO COURTESY)
TACLOBAN CITY – For the first time since assuming the role of First Lady, Liza Araneta Marcos visited this city, the hometown of her husband, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., on Thursday, July 4.
Ms. Marcos was in the city to lead her ‘Lab for All’ program, which provides free medical services to the public. The whole-day event was held at the renovated People’s Center and Library, built by her mother-in-law, former First Lady Imelda Marcos, back in the early 1980s.
More than 17 kilometers away, President Marcos visited Palo town, where he distributed financial assistance to farmers and fisherfolk. Both the President and the First Lady did not entertain any media interviews.
Among those who welcomed the First Couple on their separate visits were presidential cousins Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez, his wife Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, and Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla.
In her brief speech, the First Lady mentioned that their visit to the city for the ‘Lab for All’ program was a way of providing a ‘gift’ for her mother-in-law’s 95th birthday.
“Alam naman ninyo na ito ang probinsya ng aking biyenan at sabi ho niya na papunta kami dito ngayon. Birthday gift niya sa inyong lahat,” she said.
More than 2,000 people, mostly senior citizens, took advantage of the services offered during the event, including free X-rays, laboratory tests, ECGs, and dental services.
Same event was also held at the Leyte Normal University gym.
The First Lady emphasized that the Lab For All program aims to bring government services closer to the people.
“Ang Lab for All program ho namin ay brainchild namin ng asawa ko. Ang sinabi ng asawa ko, we should bring government services closer to the people and not the other way around,” she said.
Maria Dablo, a 64-year-old widow, shared that she arrived at the venue as early as 6 AM to have her eyes checked.
“For four years now, I have had difficulty with my eyesight. I could not afford to have them checked because I don’t have money,” Dablo, who sells rice cakes as her main source of income, said.
Among those present were Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, Commission on Higher Education Chairman Prospero de Vera III, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Suharto Mangundadato.
(JOEY A.GABIETA/LIZBETH ANN A. ABELLA)
