DIRECT AID TO THE PEOPLE. House Speaker Martin Romualdez (in blue polo shirt) leads the distribution of various form of assistance from the various government agencies during the opening of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) at the Zamboanga City Coliseum in Zamboanga City on Friday (May 10, 2024). The two-day service caravan is expected to deliver PHP580 million worth of government services and assistance to around 111,000 beneficiaries. (Photo courtesy of Speaker Romualdez’s office)
MANILA – The Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF), the flagship program of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. that brings government service and assistance directly to the people, is rolling out a total of PHP580 million to 111,000 beneficiaries in Zamboanga City during its two-day festival of services from Friday to Saturday.
"Mismong ang pamahalaan na ang pupunta sa lalawigan ninyo, hindi niyo na kailangang maglakbay at gumastos para pumunta sa mga sentro sa probinsya para makakuha ng serbisyo at ayuda (The government is the one that goes to your province, you don’t need to travel and spend money to go to centers to get services and assistance," House Speaker Martin Romualdez told the beneficiaries at the kick off program at the Zamboanga City Coliseum on Friday.
“Ito ang pagsasabuhay ng mga hangarin ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. para sa mamamayang Pilipino, ang makakuha ng direktang serbisyo dahil ang pamahalaan ang pupunta sa kanila. (This is the embodiment of President Marcos’ aspirations for the Filipino people, for the people to receive direct services because the government will be the one going to them). This is the very essence of inclusive development and responsive governance.”
The caravan in Zamboanga City marks the 16th installment of the program of the Marcos administration that brings together 417 government services from 47 agencies under one roof, including cash aid payouts.
Zamboanga City is also the fifth Mindanao province to be visited by the Serbisyo Fair, next to Bukidnon, Agusan del Norte, Sultan Kudarat, and Davao de Oro.
The BPSF will also go to Tawi-Tawi in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) and Davao del Norte in the next weeks.
Of the PHP580 million that will be rolled out in Zamboanga City, PHP273 million will be in the form of cash assistance.
A city-wide payout to 67,311 beneficiaries of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations of the DSWD worth PHP252 million will also be conducted.
A total of 355,000 kilos of rice were also distributed to qualified beneficiaries in Zamboanga City.
Other city-wide activities include various scholarship programs of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and Commission on Higher Education (CHED), as well as livelihood assistance for various sectors of pre-identified eligible beneficiaries.
Coinciding with the BPSF is the launch of the Start-up, Incentives, Business Opportunity and Livelihood program and the Integrated Scholarship and Incentives for the Youth Program – which seek to provide aid to struggling small entrepreneurs and students who need assistance with the costs of higher education learning.
A total of 3,000 SIBOL beneficiaries in Zamboanga City received PHP5,000 each from the AICS Program, along with five kilograms of rice at the distribution at the gymnasium of Claret School of Zamboanga City on Friday.
For the ISIP for the Youth, a total of 3,000 students will be given PHP2,000 each in financial assistance every six months, also through the DSWD AICS, to cover tuition and other expenses.
They also received five kilograms of rice each at a simple ceremony at the Western Mindanao State University Gymnasium.
Meanwhile, identified student beneficiaries will be enrolled under CHED’s Tulong Dunong Program where students can get scholarship assistance per semester, amounting to PHP15,000, and priority slots under the Government Internship Program after graduation.
Unemployed parents or guardians may also be enrolled in the Department of Labor and Employment's Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/ Displaced Workers program.
Show of solidarity, support
The BPSF in Zamboanga City is also the biggest so far in terms of attendance of members of the House of Representatives, with 85 lawmakers attending the event.
This display of unity in the BPSF, Romualdez said, is proof of the solidarity of the Legislature with Marcos in passing important legislation.
“This harmony enables lawmakers to enact meaningful reforms and initiatives under the President’s leadership. Nakikita naman natin ang dedikasyon ng ating mga kinatawan sa Kongreso na makita ng personal kung paanong nakaka-benepisyo sa mamamayang Pilipino ang bawat batas na dumadaan sa Kongreso at sa bawat programa na ating pinopondohan (We can see the dedication of our representatives to witness personally how every law that was passed and funded by Congress benefit the Filipino people),” Romualdez said.
He said the turnout of lawmakers also proves the “unprecedented unity” of government officials in the program, and underscores the commitment of the House of Representatives to serve as” true champions of the Filipino people.”
Lawmakers present during the event included Majority Leader Manuel Jose “Mannix” Dalipe, Zamboanga City 1st District Rep. Khymer Adan Olaso, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales, Jr., Deputy Speaker David Suarez, Deputy Speaker Yasser Balindong, and Deputy Majority Leader Erwin Tulfo.
Also in attendance were Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla and her son Rep. Bryan Revilla, and several members of the "Young Guns" like Reps. Zia Alonto Adiong, Margarita Nograles, Cheeno Miguel Almario, and Ramon Rodrigo Gutierrez, among others. (PNA)
