The Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) shifted into high gear as it visited Siquijor and delivered over P300 million worth of government programs and cash aid to an estimated 50,000 beneficiaries over the weekend, covering 100 percent of the province’s family population.
Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, leader of the 300-plus-strong House of Representatives and one of the primary proponents of BPSF, said he is delighted that the program has been successful in delivering government services to the people up to the far-flung areas of the country.
Romualdez represented President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the opening of the two-day BPSF at the Siquijor State College Gymnasium in the municipality of Larena Feb. 18, where he delivered the keynote address.
“Sa Bagong Pilipinas, lahat kasama sa pag-unlad. Pinakamaliit man ang Siquijor sa mga lalawigan ng Central Visayas, kasama pa din po kayo sa Bagong Pilipinas. Patunay dito ang paglunsad ngayon ng Serbisyo Fair sa inyong lugar,” the Speaker said.
He said the BPSF is the realization of Marcos’ promise to bring government services closer to the people in the fastest and most efficient manner.
The BPSF in Siquijor was the first one held in all of Region VII and was hosted by its representative, Congressman Zaldy Villa, together with Siquijor Governor Jake Vincent Villa.
Other members of the House also attended the event in a show of support and solidarity to Romualdez and the BPSF, including Negros Oriental Reps. Jocelyn Sy Limkaichong (1st District) and Manuel Sagarbarria (2nd District), Cebu’s Rachel Marguerite Del Mar, (1st District), Eduardo Rama Jr. (2nd District) Edsel Galeos, (2nd District), Pablo John Garcia (3rd District), Janice Salimbangon (4th District), Daphne Lagon (6th District), Peter Calderon (7th District), Emmarie Ouano-Dizon (Mandaue City), Ma. Cynthia Khan (Lapu-Lapu City), and Ako Bisaya Partylist Rep. Sonny Lagon.
It was the 12th installment of the largest and grandest serbisyo caravan in the country, which aims to cover all 82 provinces nationwide, a press release from Romualdez’s office said.
The Siquijor leg of BPSF was expected to further boost the province’s tourism industry as it would likewise benefit small business owners and MSMEs, which cater to the millions of tourists, who flock to Siquijor yearly.
With 39 participating national government agencies, over 200 services will be offered to 50,000 expected beneficiaries during the festival of services. As of 10 p.m. Saturday, 40,626 residents of the province have registered as BPSF beneficiaries.
A total of P300 million worth of programs and services were earmarked for delivery to the residents of the province for the duration of the two-day BPSF, of which P117 million is in the form of cash assistance.
Among the services offered was a province-wide payout of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program of the DSWD, expected to reach over 30,000 individual beneficiaries, amounting to P80 million.
Other province-wide activities included scholarship programs of Tesda and CHED, and livelihood assistance for various sectors in pre-identified eligible beneficiaries. ||
