House Speaker Martin Romualdez announced plans to distribute P1.2 billion in cash aid and programs to approximately 50,000 residents of Oriental Mindoro during the two-day Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) over the weekend.
This started with 7,000 Oriental Mindoro residents receiving P23 million in scholarship, farm, and livelihood assistance on Saturday under three separate programs under the House of Representatives in cooperation with national agencies upon the directive of President Marcos.
The Speaker led the distribution of financial assistance to beneficiaries in the province under the Integrated Scholarships and Incentives Program (ISIP) for the Youth; the Start-up, Investment, Business Opportunity, and Livelihood (SIBOL) program; and the Farmers Assistance for Recovery and Modernization (FARM).
An additional 2,000 residents received more aid under the Cash and Rice Distribution (CARD) Program, which is distributed by legislative districts of the House of Representatives.
Romualdez, a key proponent of the BPSF, emphasized the government’s commitment to bringing services closer to the people, particularly in providing financial assistance and essential provisions such as rice.
Echoing the President’s pledge to Filipinos, Romualdez affirmed plans to keep extending government aid across every corner of the Philippines, despite facing criticism.
The BPSF, a groundbreaking initiative under President Marcos, aims to assist the impoverished and those encountering obstacles in accessing government services.
The Oriental Mindoro leg, the first in MIMAROPA, marks the 13th installment of the Serbisyo Caravan, hosted by Oriental Mindoro Rep. Arnan Panaligan and Gov. Humerlito Dolor.
In Oriental Mindoro alone, 42 government agencies are expected to offer 265 services to an estimated 50,000 beneficiaries, with P1.2 billion in assistance, including P278 million in cash aid.
The BPSF activity in the province was held at the Oriental Mindoro National High School on Saturday, when 22 agencies conducted a ceremonial turnover of over 20 programs.
Following the successful event in Sultan Kudarat, where over 150,000 citizens were served and P1.2 billion in government aid was disbursed, the caravan is set to visit Butuan City, Agusan del Norte, and several other regions.
With over 20 members of the House of Representatives joining the launch, the BPSF aims to provide various government services, including driver’s license renewal, PhilHealth registration, and applications for passport and National Bureau of Investigation clearance.