By Zaldy De Layola | Philippine News Agency
The Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) returned to the Caraga Region to distribute P560 million worth of government services, programs, and financial aid to some 90,000 beneficiaries in Surigao del Sur during a two-day service festival that started on Friday.
House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez represented President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during the opening ceremonies at the De La Salle John Bosco College – Open Field where over 10 agencies conducted the ceremonial turnover of over 14 programs.
“Masaya po tayo’t nakaulayaw natin ang mga Surigaonon sa ating BPSF sa Surigao del Sur para ipaalala sa kanila at iparamdam na ang gobyerno ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos ang lumalapit sa kanila para magserbisyo, magpatupad ng iba’t ibang programa at ilapit ang tulong sa mga nangangailangan,” Romualdez said in his speech.
“Mahal ni Pangulong Marcos Jr. ang Mindanao, at ang patuloy na pagsasagawa ng BPSF sa mga lalawigan dito ay patunay na hindi maiiwan sa programa’t serbisyo ang ating mga kapatid na taga-Mindanao,” he added.
The Surigao del Sur BPSF is the latest of nine service fairs in the island of Mindanao, preceded by those held in Zamboanga City, Bukidnon, Agusan del Norte, Sultan Kudarat, Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Cagayan de Oro, and Tawi-Tawi.
It is the 20th installment of the Service Caravan nationwide, which has been envisioned to visit all 82 provinces in the Philippines.
The BPSF Surigao del Sur leg officially started at 9 a.m. and was attended by at least 77 district and partylist lawmakers across different regions.
With 46 participating national government agencies, 90,000 beneficiaries were offered 217 government programs and services worth P560 million, P244 million of which were in the form of cash assistance.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will be conducting continuous payouts across the province to provide 64,000 Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) beneficiaries amounting to P216 million.
Other province-wide activities include various scholarship programs of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and Commission on Higher Education (CHED), including livelihood assistance for various sectors of pre-identified beneficiaries.
Romualdez also led the distribution of 95,000 kilograms of rice to qualified beneficiaries in the province.
“Hindi na mawawala ang distribution ng bigas sa ating mga BPSF dahil naniniwala tayo na ang bigas ay buhay. Ginagawa ng inyong pamahalaan ang lahat para mapababa ang presyo ng bigas para sa ating mga pamilyang Pilipino,” he assured.