Caravan generates funds for Mt Province dialysis patients

By Wabilyn M. Lomong-oy

BONTOC, Mountain province -- After suffering minor setback last year, the “Kataguan caravan for a cause (Drive for life)” pushed through this year on April 6, as part of activities of 50th Mountain Province foundation day and 13th Lang-ay Festival generating about P338,000 in total excluding some collectibles and pledges that have yet to be accounted for.

A total of P234,250 was immediately turned over by the Office of Congressman Maximo B. Dalog in a short program after the caravan at Sagada, Mountain Province while P104,000 was collected by members of Kataguan Dialysis Patients in Mountain Province Inc. themselves.

The caravan started in 2014 as a partnership program of Dalog with Mountain Province patients undergoing hemodialysis treatments in the province and Baguio City.

It was then that the patients took the initiative to organize themselves as a group and later named it Kataguan Dialysis Patients of Mountain Province, Inc. Currently, their membership increased from less than 50 in 2014 to 102 this year.

The caravan kicked off at the All Saints Mission International School compound with a send-off prayer by Rev. Liova Achawon for protection of participants and  success of activity.

Participants of more than 30 vehicles and about 70 individuals proceeded to Dawdawan in Sabangan going up to Bagnen Oriente.

Apart from driving the designated routes, the caravan also featured some of the tourist destinations of the province like Mount Polis in Bauko where the participants climbed an elevation of 1,844 meters above sea level in order to witness the scenic views the Mount Clitoris of Tadian, the Rice Terraces of Sagada, the Sleeping Beauty of Tinglayan, Kalinga and the mountains of Benguet. Dubbed as the “View deck in the Sky,” the beautiful mountain top is located in Barangay Bagnen Oriente of the municipality of Bauko.

From Bauko, the caravan continued to Taccong, Sagada capturing a view of the Blue Mountain, Kaman Otek and the Marlboro Country and a drive through the already completed Sabangan-Sagada via Taccong DOT-DPWH road convergence project and went on towards Sagada via the Balili-Sagada Road, also a completed convergence project. While on their way to the Church of Saint Mary the Virgin for a short prayer in favor of the dialysis patients, the participants passed through the Balangagan Cave, Marlboro Country, Sumaguing Cave, and the Hanging Coffins.

The caravan concluded with a short program with Rep. Dalog giving an inspirational message to patients and distributing some booties, gaiters and soaps as departure activity.