Davao City  -Over 300 Indigenous Peoples (IPs) from barangays Biao Guianga, Biao Escuela, Talandang, Tagakpan and Manuel Guianga in Tugbok District here participated in the recent Medical Mission cum Serbisyo Caravan organized by the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Philippine Health Insurance Corporation (PhilHealth), Department of Education (DepEd), and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP). This was bared by Pantawid Pamilya IP focal Audrie Perez.

The outreach program was held at Barangay Manuel Guianga gym and in Biao Escuela gym.

Earlier, the five lead national agencies have converged and formed the Regional Inter Agency Committee for the Indigenous Peoples’ Health (RIACIPH), which primarily aims to bring basic social and health services to beneficiaries of the DSWD Modified Conditional Cash Transfer for Indigenous Peoples (MCCT-IP) all over the region, Perez said.

Perez said DOH provided medicines and vitamins while PhilHealth distributed the 2016 Member Data Record (MDR) forms.

Private practitioner Atty. Ryan Erik Santiago offered free legal consultation while doctors Daryl Demavibas and Ronald Soriano provided free dental services including tooth extraction, Perez said.

At least 278 IP beneficiaries received their MDR form, 224 availed of free medicines and vitamins, 73 were provided dental services while 42 sought legal advice.

The RIACIPH medical mission has covered the IP communities in Waan and Marilog District in 2015, Perez added. (DSWD)