SLOGAN FOR THE NATION | Workers of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority pause for a look at the stage being prepared at Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Friday, Jan. 26, 2024, ahead of Sunday’s grand launch of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s governance brand. (Photo by RICHARD A. REYES / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — Cash aid as well as free government clearances and other services will be offered at Sunday’s launching of the Marcos administration’s Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines) governance brand, according to Malacañang.
But Communications Undersecretary Gerard Baria said “I just want to emphasize that this is a bureaucratic exercise. That’s why our audience is composed of all agencies under the Executive department.”
“This is almost similar in concept to the strategic planning [in private companies]. This is a declaration of commitment of the Philippine bureaucracy to level up the government services for us to realize a New Philippines,” he said in a forum on Saturday.
According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) will distribute cash aid to “pre-identified beneficiaries” of its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.
The Government Service Insurance System, as part of the event’s “Serbisyo Fair,” will provide onsite services for eCard enrollment, verification of records, loan applications and housing programs for state workers, PCO also said in its statement on Saturday.
Philippine Health Insurance Corp. will facilitate the registration of applicants for its medical programs, while the Philippine Statistics Authority will extend such services as registration for the Philippine Identification System.
The National Bureau of Investigation “will provide issuance of clearance, free of charge for first-time jobseekers,” the PCO said.
It added that “assistance [for] online transactions will be extended by the Social Security System along with the claims inquiry and claims and record verification while the Philippine National Police will provide services, such as the issuance of the license to Own and possess firearm.”
The PNP will also issue free police clearances for job applicants and conduct drug tests, neuropsychiatric tests, notary authentications and a gun safety seminar.
Not for Charter change
Baria said the rally is “definitely not” intended to promote the ongoing people’s initiative campaign pushing amendments to the 1987 Constitution, as some critics suspect.
But former Bayan Muna Rep. Neri Colmenares insisted that the rally will be used precisely to promote Charter change, as he cited barangay and Sanggunian Kabataan officials among his sources.
Baria also emphasized that government employees were not ordered, but rather “encouraged,” to attend the rally.
“Part of our job is to show support to our boss, isn’t it?” he said.
But another former lawmaker, Ferdinand Gaite also of Bayan Muna, said he learned from various unions in agencies, such as the DSWD, Department of Labor and Employment, Department of the Interior and Local Government and Laguna Lake Development Authority that their employees were ordered to report to Quirino Grandstand.
A contractual employee of one of the attached agencies of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) also confirmed to the Inquirer that they were required by their office to attend the rally in exchange for compensatory time off or additional work leaves.
“These unconscionable and desperate measures are using millions of government funds for a program so similar to the despised “Bagong Lipunan” of yore,” Gaite said, referring to the New Society brand that Mr. Marcos’ father and namesake adopted for his martial law regime.
Traffic advisory
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) advises motorists to avoid roads near the area of Quirino Grandstand.
The agency said in a traffic advisory that road closures will take effect from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Roxas Boulevard, from United Nations Avenue to Padre Burgos Avenue; on both sides of T.M. Kalaw Street, from Roxas Boulevard to Taft Avenue; both sides of Padre Burgos Avenue; Finance Road; Ma. Orosa Street; and Bonifacio Drive, from Anda Circle to Padre Burgos Avenue.
Traffic rerouting will also be implemented, with northbound vehicles on Roxas Boulevard advised to turn at Quirino Avenue or United Nations Avenue, then left to Taft Avenue and onward to their destinations.
Southbound vehicles on R-10 Road going to Bonifacio Drive and Anda Circle must turn left to Soriano Avenue in Intramuros, then right to Muralla Street, left to Magallanes Drive, right to Padre Burgos Avenue, then Taft Avenue and onward to their destinations.
Trucks going to the Manila North Harbor from South Luzon Expressway must go straight ahead to Osmeña Highway, then turn right to Quirino Avenue, straight to Nagtahan Street going to Lacson Avenue, left to Yuseco Street, straight ahead to Capulong Street, then right to R-10 Road.
Trucks coming from Parañaque must turn right at Quirino Avenue, then head toward Nagtahan Street, then Lacson Avenue.
The MMDA also assigned certain boulevards, avenues and other roads in Manila, Pasay and Parañaque as parking areas for vehicles of people going to the rally.