The Makati City government has granted residents of the Enlisted Men’s Barrio (EMBO) free access to various services at the weekly Lingkod Bayan Caravan in selected barangays.
Following a Supreme Court decision last year, the EMBO barangays are now under the control of Taguig City. The EMBO barangays include the villages of Cembo, Comembo, Pembo, East Rembo, West Rembo, South Cembo, Pitogo, Post Proper Northside, Post Proper Southside, and Rizal.
Makati City Mayor Abigail Binay earlier announced the free consultations for EMBO residents at all barangay health centers and Ospital ng Makati (OsMak), in response to complaints from affected residents about inadequate health services in Taguig City.
“We have been receiving numerous complaints from EMBO residents about lack of access to basic health services. We are also concerned for residents and senior citizens who can no longer avail themselves of free, unlimited dialysis sessions and free maintenance medicines, which Makati provides,” she said in a statement.
Starting Feb. 12, four barangay health centers in Bangkal, Poblacion, Kasilawan, and Guadalupe Nuevo will operate from 6 am to 10 pm, instead of the usual 8 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday, to accommodate both Makati and EMBO residents.
Binay also ordered all concerned frontline offices of the city government to accommodate EMBO residents in the caravans scheduled throughout the year.
She encouraged residents to monitor the city’s Facebook page, My Makati, for updates on the schedule and location of the city’s multiservice caravan. She noted that a good number of EMBO residents turned up at the first two caravans this year held in Barangays Poblacion and Urdaneta.
“We gladly welcomed hundreds of EMBO residents, who came all the way to District 1 to avail themselves of free health services and other benefits offered during each caravan,” she said.
Health services offered during a caravan include free checkups, x-rays, ECG, FBS, blood typing, and free medicines. Other free services available to EMBO residents include pet vaccination, pet microchipping, legal aid, job fair, and assistance from utility companies Meralco and Manila Water.
“We also encourage EMBO residents to take advantage of the free consultations at all Makati health centers and OsMak. They can go to the nearest health center to schedule an appointment,” Mayor Binay said.
She said senior citizens with valid senior citizen cards from the EMBO barangays will also continue to enjoy free laboratory, imaging, and diagnostic services at OsMak, in line with the Universal Health Care Law of 2019.
“Even though the EMBO barangays are no longer under Makati, we feel it is our moral responsibility to ensure their access to essential health services. Our care and support extend beyond geographical boundaries,” the city chief executive said.
Binay said her administration is also considering holding medical missions to further accommodate the laboratory and diagnostics needs of EMBO residents. These activities can be done periodically to relieve the financial burden of medical expenses on the former Makati residents, she said.
“We understand the financial strain medical expenses can place on families, especially in these challenging times. Our proposed activities aim to bridge this gap for the EMBO residents, providing much-needed relief and support,” the mayor said.