By Brian Campued
“Kapag sinabi nating bawat bayan; bawat pamilya, walang maiiwan.”
As part of the administration’s commitment to bringing government services and assistance directly to communities, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the distribution of aid for Cagayan families under the “Bawat Bayan Makikinabang” initiative on Friday.
During the event in Cagayan Coliseum, Tuguegarao City, President Marcos Jr. emphasized the importance of empowering local government units (LGUs) to directly implement projects and effectively deliver programs that will benefit their constituents.
He assured LGUs additional funding for the Socio-Civic Projects Fund (SCPF) in 2027 provided that its implementation this year becomes successful.
“’Pagka maging maganda ang patakbo nitong programang ito, ‘pagka naging maganda ang pagkalat natin ng benepisyo sa iba’t ibang lugar ay asahan ninyo na pagdating (ng) budget sa 2027, dagdagan natin ng budget para mas malaki pa,” he said.
Under the SCPF, P200,000 were given to each of the 771 barangays in Cagayan province and 49 barangays in Tuguegarao City.
Half of the total budget is intended for barangay-identified development priority projects, such as public services, administrative and office equipment, streetlighting, and disaster risk reduction and management.
The remaining P100,000 will be allocated for educational assistance of five Bagong Pilipinas Barangay Scholars per barangay, with every scholar receiving P20,000.
Around 4,100 scholars from 820 barangays in Cagayan are expected to benefit from the program.
The President also led the distribution of 10-kilogram rice packs to 3,000 beneficiaries from Tuguegarao City and 111,333 beneficiaries across Cagayan under the Bagong Pilipinas Rice Program funded by the Local Government Support Fund (LGSF).
“Ito pong 10 kilo na sako eh huwag niyong isipin po na minsanan lang ito. Magbibigay kami ng 10-kilo na sako na anim na beses sa isang taon,” Marcos Jr. said, reiterating the government’s continuing efforts to ease the burden of rising food costs on vulnerable Filipinos.
He stressed that the “Bawat Bayan Makikinabang” initiative aims to ensure that no Filipino family would be left behind in receiving government support, especially amid the impacts of global economic shocks.
“Gusto ko lang na malaman po ninyong lahat, ang inyong pamahalaan ay nandito, lagi po na umaalalay sa inyo, na nakikinig sa inyo. Kung mayroon po kayong hinaing, kung mayroon po kayong kailangan, kung mayroon kayong gustong sabihin, eh sabihan niyo po kami at kami’y nakikinig naman,” he said.
-jpv
