By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
Making the government’s presence felt by every citizen has been the running theme of the administration’s Bawat Bayan Makikinabang Program, which landed in Zamboanga Peninsula and the province of Sulu on Monday.
At the Western Mindanao State University gym, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the distribution of P371.8 million under the Socio-Civic Project Funds (SCPF) to the provincial governments of Zamboanga del Norte, Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga Sibugay, and the city government of Zamboanga.
He addressed the beneficiaries, “Bibigyan natin, matutulungan natin ‘yung mga may problema, at kahit papaano maramdaman ang serbisyo na ipinadala ng pamahalaan.”
Through the SCPF, each barangay under the provincial government or city government receives P200,000. Half of the amount is intended to fund the education of 5 Presidential scholars, while the other half is allocated for local projects.
This, on top of the 10-kilogram sacks of rice that were distributed to eligible beneficiaries from the four provinces in Region IX.
At the sidelines of his engagement with the residents, President Marcos Jr. led the launch of the third Walang Gutom Kitchen facility in the country.
This follows the recent opening of the DSWD-run kitchen in Cebu on June 22, and complements the NCR branch in Pasay City that opened its doors in 2024.
The Zamboanga City kitchen can cater between 150 to 200 people per meal service (breakfast and lunch) per day, and consists of a registration area, waiting area, holding area, mess hall, serving counter, storage rooms, kitchen area, Tara, Basa! Tutoring Program, reading corner, and Pag-abot Program Desk, and comfort rooms.
Gov’t services, initiatives reach Sulu
Meanwhile, at the Sultan Jamalul Kiram Central School Gymnasium, President Marcos Jr. also led the distribution of 10-kilogram sacks of rice to 3,000 beneficiaries.
He likewise facilitated the distribution of P200,000 under the SCPF to the barangays in Sulu, with half of the funds allocated to education and the other half dedicated to local civic projects.
A total of 2,050 students from the province’s 410 barangays in 19 municipalities were named Presidential Scholars under the program.
Each barangay will select five deserving students who will receive P20,000 each to help them complete their education.
Wrapping up his engagements for the day, the Chief Executive led the inauguration of the new headquarters and support facilities of the Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) 9B in Maimbung town.
The camp will serve as the base of police mobile operations in Sulu, as well as the adjacent provinces of Basilan and Tawi-tawi, with provisions to include administrative, residential, training, and utility facilities.
The project also includes a power house, an elevated water tank, a drainage system, an internal road network, and security guard houses to support sustained operations.
Camp Hadji Suod B. Tan is perched on a 1.8-hectare land donated by the provincial government, and features a four-story administration building, separate barracks for male and female personnel, a firing range, and other essential support facilities designed to enhance the battalion’s operational readiness.
The Chief Executive also witnessed the surrender of 195 loose and high-powered firearms from rebels who voluntarily yielded to authorities, reinforcing the government’s efforts to suppress insurgency and maintain peace and order even in the far-flung regions of the country.
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