2nd BPSF in CARAGA: P560M worth of gov’t services, cash aid flood Surigao del Sur

THE Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair returned to the CARAGA Region to roll out a total of P560 million in government services, programs, and financial aid for the province’s 90,000 beneficiaries in the two-day service festival held in Bislig City on Friday until Saturday.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, one of the major proponents of the BPSF, represented President Ferdinand “Bongbong” 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 na ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos ang lumalapit sa kanila para magserbisyo, magpatupad ng iba’t-ibang programa at ilapit ang tulong sa mga nangangailangan,” Speaker Romualdez, the leader of the 300-plus-strong House of Representatives, said.

“Ito ang sagot natin sa panawagan ni Pangulong Bongbong Marcos Jr. na ilapit ang pamahalaan sa mga mamamayan. Ngayon, ang pamahalaan na ang lumalapit sa mamamayan at naglilingkod sa abot ng aming makakaya,” he continued.

“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,” Speaker Romualdez expressed.

House Deputy Secretary General Sofonias “Ponyong” P. Gabonada Jr., one of the leaders of the BPSF National Secretariat, said BPSF in Surigao del Sur is the 20th installment of the Service Caravan in all of the Philippines, adding “it is the second in CARAGA Region after Agusan del Norte, and the 9th in the whole of Mindanao with Zamboanga City, Bukidnon, Agusan del Norte, Sultan Kudarat, Davao de Oro and Tawi-Tawi.”

“This brings the BPSF in Mindanao to almost half of all the Service Caravans held throughout the country,” Gabonada said.

The BPSF in Surigao del Sur has Rep. Johnny T. Pimentel and Gov. Alexander “Ayec” T. Pimentel as local hosts. At least 77 members of the House of Representatives were present during the two-day Service Caravan.

With 46 participating national government agencies, over 217 services were offered to 90,000 beneficiaries in Surigao del Norte, all receiving a total of P600 million worth of programs and services, P244 million of which were in the form of cash assistance.

DSWD will be conducting continuous payouts across the province of Surigao del Sur, which reached a total of 64,000 AICS beneficiaries amounting to P216 million.

Other province-wide activities include various scholarship programs of TESDA and CHED, including livelihood assistance for various sectors of pre-identified eligible clients across the province of Surigao del Sur.

True to his nickname “Mr. Rice,” Speaker Romualdez 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,” Speaker Romualdez declared.

A Pagkakaisa Concert was scheduled to be held at the Bislig City Baywalk Friday night with free admission and was attended by at least 10,000 people.