Vigan Convention Center, Vigan City
January 23, 2024

As Vigan City commemorates the 23rd anniversary of its cityhood with a weeklong Longganisa Festival, First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos introduces the ‘Lab for All’ Caravan to the Heritage City, coinciding with the festivities at the Vigan Convention Center in Ilocos Sur on January 23, 2024.

Over 1,500 indigent patients from Metro Vigan have joined the one-stop shop medical service, which offers a wide array of diagnostics and complete laboratory tests at no charge. These services include ECG (electrocardiogram), urinary ultrasound, optical services and dental care, among others. The Caravan also provides free medication and includes a free pneumococcal vaccination program.

This event marks the first ‘Lab For All’ Caravan of the year, targeting indigenous peoples (IPs) and those living in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas (GIDAs) across the entire Province of Ilocos Sur. Similar medical missions were conducted in the Municipalities of Candon, Santa Cruz and Sinait from January 17 to 19, 2024. These pre-medical missions assisted a total of 2,856 patients and performed 7,189 laboratory tests, provided 552 prescription glasses, 62 dental services and 34 legal consultations.

Additionally, the Caravan features other government services from several participating national agencies, including the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Agriculture (DA), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA), among others. It also includes free services from participating private companies.

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