By Brian Campued
Over 15,000 workers from the film, theater, television, and radio sectors received P75 million worth of government assistance and services from the administration’s two-day Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) held in Pasig City on Sunday.
Titled “Paglinang sa Industriya ng Paglikha,” the “comprehensive support initiative” focused on uplifting the members of the creative media industry with more than 100 essential services and benefits from participating 23 government agencies.
Among the aid distributed until Monday are P5,000 cash aid for each beneficiary under the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, as well as the processing of government documents, licenses, and health services.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez, proponent of the BPSF, also gave five kilos of rice to each beneficiary of the event, totaling to 75,000 kilos of rice.
Aside from the various “ayuda,” the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and the Department of Labor and Employment conducted training sessions and workshops to ensure that industry professionals equip themselves with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in their respective fields.
“Sa bawat serbisyong hatid ng BPSF, layunin nating gawing mas madali at abot-kamay ang mga oportunidad para sa ating mga manggagawa sa creative sector,” Romualdez said.
“Nandito ang ating gobyerno para siguraduhing may sapat na suporta at oportunidad para sa ating mga kababayan, lalong-lalo na sa mga nasa creative industry,” the Speaker added.
The BPSF caravan has rolled out over P10 billion worth of government services and aid, serving more than 2.5 million families across 24 areas nationwide.
House Deputy Secretary General and BPSF National Secretariat Lead Sofonias Gabonada Jr. said they are also planning to hold the Bagong Pilipinas fair to accommodate more sectors, such as the retailer and delivery sector.
“Magkakaroon ng AKAP mall tour ang Presidente (Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.) at si Speaker Martin Romualdez sa mga malalaking malls natin sa Metro Manila,” Gabonada said. (with report from Mela Lesmoras/PTV News)
