No Siquijodnon left behind in Bagong Pilipinas service caravan;  residents get over P300 million worth of programs, cash aid

THE Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) shifted into high gear as it visited Siquijor and delivered over P300 million worth of various government programs and cash aid to an estimated 50,000 beneficiaries over the weekend, covering 100 percent of the province’s family population.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, leader of the 300-plus-strong House of Representatives and one of the primary proponents of BPSF, said he is delighted that the program has been successful in delivering government services to the people up to the far-flung areas of the country.

Romualdez represented President Marcos at the opening of the two-day BPSF at the Siquijor State College Gymnasium in the municipality of Larena on Sunday, where he delivered the keynote address.

“Sa Bagong Pilipinas, lahat kasama sa pag-unlad. Pinakamaliit man ang Siquijor sa mga lalawigan ng Central Visayas, kasama pa din po kayo sa Bagong Pilipinas. Patunay dito ang paglunsad ngayon ng Serbisyo Fair sa inyong lugar,” Speaker Romualdez said.

He said the BPSF is the realization of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr.’s promise to bring government services closer to the people in the fastest and most efficient manner.

“Ito po ang Bagong Pilipinas – pamamahalang nagmamahal, hindi lang sa salita, kundi sa gawa; hindi naghihintay, bagkus ay kusa at dagliang lumalapit para matugunan ang mga pangangailangan ng taongbayan tungo sa sama-sama nating pa-unlad,” Romualdez said.

The BPSF in Siquijor was the first one held in all of Region VII and was hosted by its representative, Congressman Zaldy Villa together with Siquijor Governor Jake Vincent Villa.

Other members of the House attended the event in a show of support and solidarity for Speaker Romualdez and the BPSF, including Reps. Jocelyn Sy Limkaichong (Negros Oriental, 1st District), Chiquiting Sagarbarria (Negros Oriental, 2nd District), Rachel Marguerite Del Mar, (Cebu, 1st District), Eduardo Rama Jr. (Cebu 2nd District) Edsel Galeos, (Cebu, 2nd District), Pablo John Garcia (Cebu, 3rd District), Janice  Salimbangon (Cebu, 4th District), Daphne Lagon (Cebu, 6th District), Peter Calderom (Cebu, 7th District) Emmarie “Lolypop” Ouano-Dizon (Mandaue City), Ma. Cynthia Khan (Lapu-Lapu City), and Ako Bisaya Partylist Rep. Sonny “SL” Lagon.

It was the 12th installment of the largest and grandest Serbisyo Caravan in the country, which aims to cover all 82 provinces nationwide.

The Siquijor leg of BPSF is also expected to further boost the province’s tourism industry as it would likewise benefit small business owners and MSMEs,  which cater to the millions of tourists that flock to Siquijor yearly.

With 39 participating national government agencies, over 200 services will be offered to 50,000 expected beneficiaries during the festival of services. As of 10:00 pm on Saturday, a total of 40,626 residents of the province have registered as BPSF beneficiaries.

A total of P300 million worth of programs and services are earmarked for delivery to the residents of the province for the duration of the two-day  BPSF, of which P117 million is in the form of cash assistance.

Among the services offered is a province-wide payout of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program of the DSWD, which is expected to reach over 30,000 individual beneficiaries, amounting to P80 million.

Other province-wide activities include various scholarship programs of TESDA and CHED and livelihood assistance for various sectors in pre-identified eligible beneficiaries

On the first night of the Serbisyo Fair, a Pasasalamat Concert will also be held at the Siquijor Integrated School oval, in Pulangyuta, Siquijor with free admission, which is expected to draw a crowd of at least 10,000 people.