Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan said that 500 out of the 896 barangays in the city have already been covered by her administration's weekly "Kalinga sa Maynila" program where basic services of the Manila City Hall are brought to every barangay for the residents' convenience.
During the "Balitaan Forum" held by the Manila City Hall Reporters' Association, Vice Mayor John Marvin "Yul Servo" Nieto who is also present in each Kalinga form, said that the mayor makes sure to bring with her the heads of all the departments, bureaus and offices of the Manila City Hall for them to directly address concerns, complaints, suggestions and requests for assistance, especially those concerning the senior citizens, persons with disability and solo parents.
Among the units who are present at the fora are Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB), Department of Public Services-Manila (DPS), Manila-Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW), Manila Barangay Bureau, Manila Civil Registry Office, City Legal Office, Manila Health Department (MHD), Manila Department of Social Welfare (DSW), Public Employment Service Office (PESO) - City of Manila, Manila Office of Senior Citizens' Affairs, Manila Veterinary Inspection Board and the City Treasurer’s Office.
Even Manila Police District (MDP) Director Gen. Arnold Thomas Ibay and the station commander in the area concerned are present.
Lacuna-Pangan also ordered the installment of help desks right outside the venue of the program where the residents may also go for their specific concerns.
The services that are provided for free to the residents right on the venue of the fora include the medical consultation, basic medicines, deworming, rabies vaccination, civil registry, tricycle and parking registration, persons with disability (PWD), solo parent, and senior citizen identification card registration, clearing and flushing operations, water, electricity and building permit inquiries, notary services, police clearance, and job vacancies.
The local chief executive said the program is meant to bring right at the doorsteps of the communities the basic services being offered for free by the city government of Manila so the residents no longer have to go all the way to Manila City Hall.