THE Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr. is again in Mindanao, and it rolled out a total of P300,000,000 in government aid and programs to some 80,000 beneficiaries in Agusan del Norte from Mar. 22 to 23.
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, one of the main proponents of the BPSF, said the Agusan del Norte BPSF held at the Caraga State University in Butuan City is the first in the Caraga region and the 14th installment of the Serbisyo Fair that has already benefitted hundreds of thousands of Filipinos.
“Gaya ng sinabi namin sa naunang bayan na binisita ng Serbisyo Fair, hindi hadlang ang distansya upang maabot ng pamahalaan ang mamamayang kanilang pinaglilingkuran, at ang lahat ay kasama sa pag-unlad ng ating bansa,” said Speaker Romualdez in his keynote address, representing President Marcos.
“Malayo man po ang Butuan City o ang Agusan del Norte sa Maynila, malapit naman po sa isip at puso ng ating mga pinuno ang inyong kalagayan at kapakanan,” the leader of the 300-plus-strong House of Representatives added.
The BPSF in Agusan del Norte was attended by 63 district and party list representatives across all regions, with Agusan Del Norte Rep. Jose “Joboy” Aquino II serving as the local host of the event. Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla, Jr. also graced the event.
With 53 participating national government agencies, over 293 services were offered to 80,000 beneficiaries during the two-day festival of services, totaling P300 million in programs and services, P122 million of which were in the form of cash assistance.
Among the services offered by Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) was a province-wide payout in all 10 municipalities and one city of Agusan del Norte, where over 32,000 individual Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) beneficiaries were granted cash amounting to P73 million.
In commemoration of Women’s Month, an all-women payout led by Tingog Partylist Rep. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez was undertaken where over 3,000 beneficiaries from the Cabadbaran City and 1,000 beneficiaries from the municipality of Remedios T. Romualdez were given cash assistance.
“Sa Bagong Pilipinas na sinusulong ng ating mahal na Pangulong Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr., ang pamahalaan ay hindi naghihintay, hindi nagku-kuyakoy sa mga opisina, bagkus ay kusang lumalapit para maglingkod sa taong-bayan,” Speaker Romualdez said.
“Kaya po narito kami ngayon, kasama ang iba’t ibang sangay ng pamahalaan dito sa Serbisyo Fair: para magbigay ng pag-asa, gabay at tulong. Dalangin po namin na dito sa Serbisyo Fair natin ngayon, masumpungan ninyo ang magiging susi tungo sa inyong mas mabilis na pag-asenso,” the leader of the House added.
Other province-wide activities include various scholarship programs of TESDA and CHED and livelihood assistance for various sectors in pre-identified eligible beneficiaries across Agusan Del Norte.
Speaker Romualdez also distributed a total of 200,000 kilograms of rice to selected BPSF beneficiaries, which has become a staple event during the two-day service caravan and earned for the Speaker the tag of “Mr. RICE.”
“Matibay po ang paniniwala ng administrasyong Marcos sa angking kakayahan at naisin ng bawat Pilipino – na linangin ang sarili, nang sa gayon ay makapag-ambag para sa ikabubuti ng ating mga mahal sa buhay at para sa ating bayan,” Speaker Romualdez expressed.
“Nandito po ang pamahalaan, kasama po kami sa Kamara de Representantes, upang tulungan kayo na isabuhay ang hangaring ito. Sama-sama po nating pandayin at itaguyod ang Bagong Pilipinas!”
On the first night of the BPSF, a Pagkakaisa Concert was held at the Libertad Sports Complex with free admission, which drew an audience of around 10,000.