Laoag City’s ‘Agserbi 24/7’ braves rain, scorching sun

HANDS ON. Laoag Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas demonstrates how to process meat during an Agserbi 27/4 program. (Doms dela Cruz)

By Dominic B. dela Cruz

Staff reporter

Laoag City—After renaming its community outreach program to “Laoag Agserbi 24/7”, Laoag Mayor Chevylle V. Fariñas vowed to visit all the 80 barangays here before the end of 2014.

Formerly known as “Rang-ay ti Barangay,” the retooled outreach program is better, according to Ms. Fariñas as they now moving 24 hours a day and seven days a week to deliver all the requests of the city’s barangays.

Ms. Fariñas also stressed that the rumors saying the program is not going well is not true. But these rumors, she added, only made them work harder to bring the needed services to the people.

The new outreach program’s process also changed. This time, city government officials go to an area well in advance of the scheduled visit to gather all their requests. These requests are then delivered when “Agserbi 24/7” goes to the barangay.

As this moved the delivery of requests faster, additional requests during the “Agserbi 24/7” proper are delivered soon after.

The mayor, along with other city government officials, particularly the department heads, also talk directly to the people to know what projects they need and how this could be given to them.

After their visit, Ms. Fariñas said she has requested all department heads to file weekly accomplishment reports, especially about requests that were not granted. She emphasized that she is personally monitoring these.

As of July 24, 2014, the city government has conducted “Agserbi 24/7” in 22 barangays in the city.