The administration’s Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) has already poured in billions of pesos in government services, financial aid, and livelihood assistance to 18 areas, and is scheduled to visit three Mindanao provinces in May and early June, House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez said.
Romualdez further said: “Four of the 18 areas and provinces are in Mindanao. This service caravan has already visited almost every region, including Bukidnon, Agusan del Norte, Sultan Kudarat, and Davao de Oro. And in the next few days and weeks, we will go to Zamboanga City, Tawi-Tawi, and Davao del Norte.”
Apart from the BPSF, the House of Representatives, through his initiative, also spearheaded the Cash and Rice Distribution (CARD) Program; the Integrated Scholarships and Incentives Program (ISIP) for the Youth; the Start-up, Investment, Business Opportunity and Livelihood (SIBOL), and the Farmers Assistance for Recovery and Modernization (FARM).
The BPSF as well as the CARD Program, ISIP, FARM and SIBOL is scheduled to roll out government programs and cash aid to beneficiaries in Zamboanga City on May 10-11, Tawi-Tawi on May 25-26, and Davao del Norte on June 7-8.
The Speaker said the administration uses to its full extent the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation and the Department of Labor and Employment’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers to aid vulnerable sectors who are also the beneficiaries of the flagship Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program.
The cash aid programs of the Marcos administration, including the initiatives brought to life by the leadership of the House of Representatives, have already benefited millions of Filipinos, especially those from vulnerable sectors.
“Under the direction of our beloved President Marcos, we will continue to reach out to our countrymen who are lamenting the hardships of the times. Our dear President knows this, so his marching order to the entire government is to do everything for the people to feel the help from the government," he said.
“In addition, the government has many other programs such as free college education, free health insurance, and the provision of direct cash subsidies. And not only that, we here in Congress have been instructed by the dear President to think of ways for the comfort of our citizens," he added.
The BPSF alone has facilitated the release of billions of pesos in government services and financial and livelihood aid, having served a total of 18 places and provinces already and benefitted millions of Filipinos.
Romualdez cited a total of P1.2 billion in government services and cash grants were rolled out in Sultan Kudarat alone to around 150,000 beneficiaries.
“For all these initiatives in line with the challenge of President Marcos to provide direct services to the people, we partnered with the AICS of the DSWD to meet the needs of vulnerable sectors, students who are struggling with school expenses, farmers who need a little push to get started, and small entrepreneurs who need help getting started,” he noted.
“The Marcos administration believes that no one should be left behind, including everyone in aid. So we will continue to work hard to create a program for all sectors, benefiting from the help from the government," he said.