ANGELES CITY — Three months after the launching of a free cataract operation for Angeleños, a joint project of Mayor Carmelo “Pogi” Lazatin, Jr. and First District Rep. Carmelo “Jon” Lazatin II., 21 residents have now been treated.
Dubbed as “Aslag Ning Pag-Asa”, the residents who availed of the project were picked up from their homes by the city government thru the Gender and Development Office led by Mina Cabiles.
A total of 132 patients from the city’s barangays endorsed by doctors will also be scheduled for operation, Cabiles shared.
Cabiles said that since its launching in October 2021, 377 Angeleños have signed up and underwent initial check-ups.
“The process is, their signed up forms were submitted by their respective Rural Health Units to the GAD office, and then were scheduled by GAD staff for their initial check-ups to be assessed by doctors of partnered health institutions,” Cabiles explained.
“Ang bilin po ni Mayor Lazatin, tayo po ang susundo at maghahatid sa kanila once naka-schedule na sila for check-up and operation,” she added.
One of the beneficiaries of the program, Efren Mactal, a senior from Barangay Virgen Delos Remedios, said if not for the cataract operation project of the Lazatin brothers, his eyesight condition would not have been treated.
“Matagal ko na pong dinadamdam ito, pero dahil po may kamahalan ang pagpapaopera, hindi po ako makapagpaopera,” Mactal said.
Mactal shared as soon as he learned of the project, he immediately coordinated with his respective RHU to avail the free cataract operation.
After his operation in December, Mactal said his eyesight is now in good condition and he is more comfortable working at his mini grocery store.
