STO. TOMAS, Davao del Norte —Residents of this agricultural town can now easily avail themselves of the basic social and legal programs and services of the local government unit of Sto. Tomas as it opened to the public a working office of Sto. Tomas Mayor “Tatay” Ernesto Evangelista that seeks to improve the delivery of these services for every Tomasian.
Aptly called as “Dangpanan ni Tomas,” the unique facility is located inside the municipal compound where residents can seek assistance of their various needs and concerns. DnT has served 383 clients coming from different barangays since it was opened last July 1. Among the services provided were burial assistance, financial assistance, medical assistance, rice subsidy, free legal consultation, sports equipments, and hospital referral to the Davao Regional Hospital in Tagum City.
Mayor “Tatay” Evangelista said “Dangpanan ni Tomas” aims to bring the social programs and services closer to his constituents. “The idea really is to bring the LGU’s social services and programs closer to the people. Under my term, I want every Tomasian to avail himself of the services since our local government unit them their needs especially those coming from geographically-isolated areas,” Evangelista said.
Evangelista said the concept of DnT is anchored on his administration’s political mantra “Akyson ang Solusyon” (Action is the Solution).
“DnT seeks to address the concerns of the common people. If they have problems with burial, medical related-issues, legal, and other concerns that need to be addressed immediately,” he stressed.
The local chief executive further explained that DnT would serve as a “sounding board” where every Tomasians could directly voice out their comments, suggestions and aspirations to the Office of the Mayor. “They can communicate whatever, whenever, they want. I take the people’s comment seriously because it would help me lay the foundation on policy formation and decision- making toward achieving my pro-people political agenda,” Evangelista said.
Carlo Jack Pino, executive assistant II, and in-charge of the DnT program, said that the establishment of DnT would ensure that government services are more accessible to the people.
“We view DnT as a social arm of the Executive’s branch through the leadership of Mayor ‘Tatay’ Erning Evangelista. The program is expected to enhance the delivery of basic services guaranteeing higher number of beneficiaries from different barangays,” Pino said.
Sto. Tomas town is a 1st Class Municipality with a total population of 118, 750 based on the 2015 National Statistics Office data. It has 19 barangays with Barangay Tibal-og as the most densely populated barangay.
Since DnT was opened to the public, it was able to cater the immediate needs of every Tomasians with barangay leaders at the frontline of giving services to each constituent while minimizing the cost that people may incur as they go along the process to avail the services.
