SERBISYO FAIR. Speaker Martin Romualdez (in black polo) leads the ceremonial turnover of government services and assistance during opening of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair at the Leyte Sports Development Center Grandstand in Tacloban City on Friday (Aug. 2, 2024). Some 253,000 residents in Eastern Visayas got PHP1.26 billion worth of government services and financial aid from the 21st edition of the Serbisyo Fair that began in August last year. (Photo courtesy of Speaker’s office)
MANILA – The Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. celebrated its first anniversary this month by rolling out a total of PHP1.26 billion worth of “mega” government services and financial aid to some 253,000 Eastern Visayas beneficiaries --the largest so far in the history of the service caravan.
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, the main proponent of the BPSF, said he is "very happy" with what the government program has accomplished so far, considering that the Serbisyo Caravan in Tacloban City from Friday to Saturday is the 21st of such kind in the country since it began last year.
“Sobrang proud na proud kami sa programang ito ni Pangulong Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. dahil napakarami nating naabot na kababayan natin sa malalayong probinsya. Ito naman talaga ang esensya ng Bagong Pilipinas campaign ng ating Pangulo, ang ilapit ang serbisyo ng gobyerno sa mga tao (We are very proud of this program by President Marcos because we have reached a lot of our countrymen in far-flung provinces. This is the real essence of the Bagong Pilipinas campaign of our President, to bring government services closer to the people),” Romualdez said during opening program held at the Leyte Sports Development Center Grandstand in Tacloban City on Friday.
“At ako’y naniniwala na natupad natin at patuloy na matutupad ang ninanais na ito ng ating Pangulo. Dadalhin natin ang mega Serbisyo Fair na ito sa buong bansa. Dalangin natin ay mapuntahan ng BPSF ang lahat ng 82 na lalawigan ng Pilipinas, para lahat ay nakaranas kung paano inilapit ng administrasyon ni PBBM ang serbisyo publiko sa lahat ng tao (I firmly believe that we have accomplished, and will continue to accomplish the aspirations of our President. We will bring the mega Serbisyo Fair to the whole country. We pray that BPSF reaches all the 82 provinces of the Philippines so that everyone will experience how the PBBM administration brings public service closer to the people),” he added.
He bared that this BPSF was region-wide --another milestone for the program -- with the main Serbisyo Fair being held in Tacloban, and other mini-BPSFs simultaneously held in Northern Samar, Eastern Samar, Samar, Southern Leyte, and Biliran.
“So, this really is a BPSF for Eastern Visayas. Para na rin itong thanksgiving celebrations natin kasi naka-isang taon tayong naghahatid ng direktang serbisyo at ayuda para sa ating mga kababayan sa malalayong lugar (This is also like a thanksgiving celebration because we already have a year of delivering direct services and aid to our countrymen in far-flung areas),” Romualdez said.
House Deputy Secretary-General Sofonias “Ponyong” Gabonada, one of the top officials of the BPSF, said a total of 56 national government agencies participated in the region-wide service caravan with over 328 services offered to more than 253,000 beneficiaries in all provinces in Eastern Visayas.
Of the total PHP1.26 billion worth of programs and services rolled out, PHP807 million were in the form of cash assistance.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) will conduct cash aid payouts across the region to more than 140,000 individuals.
Other region-wide activities include various scholarship programs of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), including livelihood assistance and opportunities for various sectors of pre-identified eligible clients.
The BPSF in Tacloban was also the largest in terms of the number of government officials who attended, with 241 members of the House of Representatives, 12 governors, three vice governors, nine mayors, and 16 officials from the Executive Department present.
“Thank you to everyone who has made the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair a success. Your dedication and hard work are the driving force behind this initiative. Together, we will continue to build a brighter future for all Filipinos,” Romualdez said.
Meanwhile, a Pagkakaisa Concert, expected to draw a large crowd of 50,000 spectators, is scheduled Friday night at the RTR Plaza in Tacloban City with free admission.
More funding
Meanwhile, Romualdez assured more funding for the programs and projects under the BPSF in the 2025 national budget to ensure that President Marcos’ flagship public service program continues to deliver government services directly to the people and reach more Filipinos across the country.
The legislative body will begin deliberations on the PHP6.352-trillion national budget for 2025, which includes allocations for programs and services to help the people.
Romualdez said the House will work to ensure more funds are given to programs and services essential to the component of BPSF, such as Kadiwa ng Pangulo, Passport on Wheels, Driver's License registration/assistance, among others.
"Araw-araw, gabi-gabi ay magta-trabaho ang inyong Kongreso para mapabilis at masiguro ang pagpasa ng budget para mas marami pa tayong matulungan sa ating mga kababayan. Ito ang Bagong Pilipinas, ito ang bagong Kongreso (Your Congress will work all day and all night to hasten and ensure the passage of the budget so that we can help more of our countrymen. This is the New Philippines, this is the new Congress),” he said.
Leyte Governor Jericho Petilla thanked President Marcos, Romualdez, and Congress for ensuring that financial assistance reaches the people. acknowledging the significant impact of the BPSF.
“Lubos kaming nagpapasalamat sa ating Pangulo, kay Speaker Romualdez, at sa buong Kongreso. Ang inyong tulong at suporta ay napakalaking ginhawa sa aming mga kababayan dito sa Leyte (We sincerely thank our President, Speaker Romualdez, and Congress. Your help and support provide much comfort to our constituents here in Leyte)," Petilla said.
Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez, meanwhile, noted the collaboration between national and local governments.
"Nagpapasalamat po kami kay President Marcos, kay Speaker at sa lahat ng mambabatas na nagpunta rito. Ang kanilang pagsisikap ay nagbunga ng malaking tulong sa ating mga kababayan (We thank President Marcos, the Speaker, and all the lawmakers who went here. Their efforts have provided a big help to our countrymen),” he said.
Other programs
Romualdez also spearheaded the distribution of rice, educational livelihood assistance to 8,500 beneficiaries in Eastern Visayas under the programs Cash Assistance and Rice Distribution (CARD); Start-up, Incentives, Business Opportunity and Livelihood (SIBOL) for small-time entrepreneurs; and Integrated Scholarship and Incentives for the Youth (ISIP for the Youth).
The beneficiaries also included senior citizens, persons with disabilities, single parents and Indigenous Peoples.
The three programs utilized funds allocated for the DSWD’s Ayuda sa Kapos sa Kita Program (AKAP).
He said all the types of assistance were delivered under the instruction of President Marcos to provide more aid to struggling sectors that are not part of major social protection programs.
“Kapag may Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair sa isang lugar, isinasabay na rin natin ang CARD, SIBOL, at ISIP para matulungan natin ang mga sektor na hindi man nakasama sa 4Ps (Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program) ay alam nating nahihirapan sa hamon ng pang-araw-araw na pamumuhay (If there is BPSF in a certain place, we always synchronize the CARD, SIBOL and ISIP with it,” Romualdez said.
The ISIP for the Youth beneficiaries will be enrolled under CHED’s Tulong Dunong Program, where students can get scholarship assistance per semester amounting to PHP15,000, as well as priority slots under the Government Internship Program (GIP) after their graduation.
The students’ unemployed parents or guardians may also be enrolled in the DOLE emergency employment programs Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers. (with a report from Zaldy De Layola, Sarwell Meniano/PNA)
