The provincial government of Dinagat Islands opened Monday a five-day People’s Fair that will highlight the convergence of free services from various line agencies and the private sector.

In a statement, Dinagat Islands Gov. Nilo Demerey Jr. said the activity aims to render free services to thousands of residents in the island province.

“This is a celebration of unity, new governance, and public service. Let the government bring services to the people,” he said of the event at the capitol grounds in Barangay Cuarinta in the capital San Jose town.

The activity, Demerey said, also marked the opening of the One Dinagat Movement, “a crusade that will ensure that all government programs and services will go down and directly benefit the people of the islands.”

Aside from the provincial government, the One Dinagat Movement is also participated in by the lone congressional district on the island under Rep. Alan Uno Ecleo.

Ecleo’s office, joined hands with the Provincial Health Office and the Department of Health to hold medical missions in different barangays, vaccination, and free medical consultations.

Also on Monday, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said it has already distributed some 147 land titles to landowners in 10 barangays from the town of Libjo.

DENR also handed over 10,000 seedlings of various tree species to the different farmers’ groups in the province.

On the other hand, the Department of Agriculture in the Caraga Region also released over PHP41 million worth of assistance to the rice and corn farmers during the opening of the fair.

The other line agencies joining the event include the Department of Education, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority, Philippine Statistics Authority, Department of Trade and Industry, Department of Labor and Employment, and the Department of Science and Technology, among others.

The United Nations Development Fund (UNDF) is also joining the event as the agency is set to award some 25 fiber fishing boats to fishermen in the province.

The UNDF will also turn over to the provincial government a sea ambulance and distribute poultry breeding stocks to various women’s organizations. (PNA)