About 1,600 Negrenses availed of the Sen. Mar Roxas Medical Mission in Binal-bagan, Negros Occidental and in Handumanan, Bacolod City last Wednesday and Thursday.

The recipients were composed of indigent families, tricycle and trisikad drivers, women and children.

The medical mission in Binalbagan, held at the town public market with about 1,000 recipients, was organized by former Party-list Representative Rene Silos, in coordination with the Binalbagan Market Vendors Association and the Tricycle and Trisikad Operators and Drivers Association headed by Isidro Montemayor.

The beneficiaries were extended free medical check-up and free medicines. They were also given raffle tickets for a chance to win in the draw for 300 gift packs and 1 unit of trisikad as grand prize.

A 53-year-old tricycle driver won the trisikad unit who was very thankful and who plans to give his prize to his 18-year-old son for an additional livelihood for their family.

In Handumanan, Bacolod City, barangay captain Ri-cardo Danoy said 800 indigent beneficiaries availed of the medical mission.

Nine doctors conducted the free consultation assisted by 36 barangay health workers (BHW) while purok presidents assisted in the distribution of free medicines from the Ilonggo senator.

Danoy said that their target recipients exceeded because there were many residents who went to the barangay gym and availed the free consultation and medicines.

He said he is very thankful to Roxas because many residents in the barangay could not afford to go to the private doctors.

Twenty-eight-year-old Adriano de Facto of Purok 6, Brgy. Handumanan won one unit of trisikad which was raffled to all recipients.

He said he will now drive his own trisikad, instead of a rented one. He said that as the breadwinner of the family, he is only dependent on his earnings as a trisikad driver. He said he did not expect to win the trisikad from Senator Mar Roxas. One hundred fifty residents of the barangay received gift packs from Senator Roxas.

Trisikad and tricycle drivers in Barangay Tinampaan, Cadiz City will also avail of the medical mission of Roxas today.*