Landslide-hit Candanas residents in 

line for emergency housing, NHA says

GARCIA HERNANDEZ, Bohol (PIA)—Residents of Barangay Candanas displaced by ground movement that has destroyed 14 houses are in line for emergency housing assistance, the National Housing Authority (NHA) said.

Engr. Johndiel Gucor of the NHA said the local government of Garcia Hernandez has filed for the assistance.

“The LGU is tasked to secure the land for relocation and access while the NHA can put up the housing units with the necessary community amenities,” Gucor said.

The update came during the Barangayan sa Bagong Pilipinas and Panagtagbo sa Paglambo sa Pamilyang Pilipino Information and Service Caravan on August 14, where more than 800 residents received services from 20 national government agencies in one venue.

The Philippine Information Agency (PIA) in Bohol organized the event with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Association of United Development Information Officers (AUDIO) of Bohol.

AUDIO member agencies set up parallel information and service booths to bring frontline services to the community.

“Barangayan sa Bagong Pilipinas is an agency mandated town-hall meeting, which allows the government to directly communicate with communities government solutions to community issues, especially in building resilient communities,” PIA-Bohol Government Information Center Coordinator Rey Anthony Chiu said in his opening message.

Chiu said Disaster Communications Program was brought to the venue for residents of Candanas, which is exposed to land movements compounded by climate change.

Residents affected by the landslide met with Engr. Briele Lanzaderas of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-Mines and Geosciences Bureau (DENR-MGB), who told them to watch for signs of further movement in areas with indications of unsettled past landslides.

“Ang bisan unsang mamatikdan nga mga liki kinahanglang i-report dayon sa MLGU DRRM (Any cracks that are noticed should be reported immediately to the municipal disaster risk reduction and management office),” Lanzaderas said.

Engr. Glen Madelo of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) also asked residents to stay vigilant and prioritize safety.

Rufa Otom, responder of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office’s TARSIER117, said barangays that may be affected by the ground movement can undergo training in incident command system, earthquake drills, water safety and rescue, high-angle rescue, search and rescue, and emergency medical services, including basic life support.

Garcia Hernandez falls within the coverage area of ​​Tarsier117-Jagna.

Contacting Tarsier117 during a disaster allows responders to pinpoint the origin of the signal and dispatch an immediate response.

For families preparing to transition out of the 4Ps program, the caravan provided information on government programs, services, and livelihood opportunities that support self-sufficiency.

Services delivered

Among the services provided were Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) PhilID registration; PhilHealth’s YAKAP (Yaman ng Kalusugan Program) membership and member data record (MDR) processing; Social Security System (SSS) membership, data updating, and information on UPLIFT for low-income members; Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) tax identification number (TIN) registration; free cupcake-making training and cupcakes from the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-Bohol; advocacy materials, planting seeds, and raffle prizes from the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI) Central Visayas; free haircuts from the 47th Infantry Battalion; and artificial insemination for carabaos, cattle, goats, and pigs, along with dewormers, medicines, and vitamins from the Philippine Carabao Center-Ubay Stock Farm (PCC-USF), in partnership with the Office of the Provincial Veterinarian (OPV)-Bohol.

PIA-Bohol, DENR, NHA, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) distributed information, education and communication materials.

The Garcia Hernandez Municipal Agriculture Office distributed planting seeds.

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) provided internet services for the event.

The Education Development Center of the Provincial Government of Bohol distributed school supplies and bags to 150 school children in Barangay Candanas.

The activity was held in collaboration with the local government unit of Garcia Hernandez, Third District Representative Kristine Alexie Tutor, and the Provincial Government of Bohol. (ECB/PIA7-Bohol)

The Barangayan sa Bagong Pilipinas and 4Ps Localized Information and Service Caravan held at the Garcia-Hernandez Sports and Training Center on August 14, 2026, was an event that enabled various government agencies to reach out and directly engage with the community to address their concerns and strengthen community resilience. It also highlighted the importance of unity and partnership between government agencies and local organizations in delivering services to the public more effectively. (ECB/PIA7-Bohol)

800 graduating, active 4Ps in Ga-Her

Get grassroots service at Barangayan

GARCIA HERNANDEZ, Bohol (PIA)—The Barangayan sa Bagong Pilipinas and Panagtagbo sa Pagpalambo sa Pamilyang Pilipino (4Ps sa 4Ps) Localized Information and Service Caravan August 14, 2026 was supposed to end at 3:00 PM but government agencies extended their services until over 800 residents of the town 30 barangays got served and came home from the Garcia Hernandez Cultural and Training Center satisfied.

Designed as a community forum for the grassroots communities of Garcia Hernandez which continue to be threatened by land movements, of which 13 houses have been totally destroyed, the event opened up avenues of dialogs with the grassroots.

Already seeing the gathering of people already stressed by the imminent danger putting their lives and properties in uncertainty, Bohol’s Barangayan morphed into a hybrid event complete with a whole-of-nation government service caravan of frontline services, including information and trainings that empower communities.

Conducted to also provide a fitting take-away for graduating members of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Barangayan, in partnership with the DSWD, Provincial Government with Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado, Representative Alexie Tutor, LGU Garcia Hernandez and the Association of United Development Information Officers under the Philippine Information Agency is a perfect opportunity for residents to transact their businesses with the government, which is now brought into the town, according to Vice Mayor Antonia Ladaga, speaking for Mayor Filadelfo Baja.

At the Barangayan, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Mines and Geo-Sciences Bureau (DENR-MGB) updated the communities at risk, of the continuing threat of the landslides, explaining that the uphill barangays are established on top of old landslide debris, and the presence of continuous rains can saturate the landmass and push it further towards Manaba River.

Bohol’s Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council’s Tarsier117 through Rufa Otom, offered to communities’ disaster risk reduction trainings to equip communities with right skills, capacities and options during disasters.

National Housing Authority through Engr Johndiel Gucor, on the other hand, informed the community that LGU Garcia Hernandez has submitted proposals for the communities with damaged houses, the availment of Emergency Housing Assistance, financial aid for families who are calamity victims, exactly like the people of the town’s barangays.

From the participants, the PIA trained barangay representatives and volunteers on disaster, crime, and developmental reporting using mobile phones, as the town’s newly identified Barangay Information Officers (BIO).

Simultaneous with the reporting training, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) gave out free cupcakes and cupcake cooking demonstration to 30 women participants.

Philippine Carabao Center and Capitol’s Office of the Provincial Veterinarian moved out of the Barangayan venue to deliver artificial insemination services to carabaos, cattle, goat and pigs, also distributing dewormers and animal vitamins, including information on animal production and care.

Most dispensed services were from the Philippine Statistics Authority’s national identification registration and verification which comes in handy for getting government social benefits, Philippine Health Insurance Corporation’s Yaman ng Kalusugan Program (YAKAP) registration, members data record printing and Bureau of Internal Revenue’s business name registration, tax transactions and other allied services.

Also hot booths were Social Security System’s membership, members record updating and IEC on the UPLIFT program, which now includes cash assistance for low income members, the Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Training Institute with Municipal Agriculture Office dispensing fruit trees seedlings, information collaterals on agri production, backyard gardening, livestock production and prizes for the day’s raffle draws.

National Irrigation Authority had information collaterals, while the Department of Information Communications and Technology provided the day’s internet connection and data overwatch with LGU’s local internet connectivity, for the internet-based services.

The Philippine Army’s 47IB in Bohol also pitched in with their Datag Detachment and Katipunan Carmen’s soldier barbers rendering Libreng Tupi, while also conducting peace symposium at a separate location.

Capitol’s Education Development Center provided 150 school bags, which were distributed to children in Candanas and Datag Elementary Schools.

LGU Garcia Hernandez PNP and MRDDM also provided traffic deputies, crowd control personnel and stand by medics as the MSWD facilitated the registrations.

Despite the well-oiled machinery in the flow of the crowd in the service caravan, the PSA found itself amidst a crowd of patient clients past 3 pm.

The orderly and patient clients possibly softened the PSA team’s resolve and decided to serve the last client on the queue. (PIAbohol)

MINUTES BEFORE THE EVENT. An already filling gymnasium eventually triggered the informal start of the caravan of services during Bohol’s whole of nation style of service and information caravan during the Barangayan ug Panagtagbo sa Paglambo sa mga sakop sa 4Ps, in Garcia Hernandez, Bohol. Barangayan focused on disaster communications for the mountain barangays of the town now still facing the risk of landslides and land movements. (PIAbohol)

WE HAVE BARELY STARTED. When clients started approaching booths before the event officially started, it was deemed to be a long day for government agencies arriving for the Barangayan sa Bagong Pilipinas and Panagtagbo sa Pagpalambo sa 4Ps in Garcia Hernandez. (PIABohol)