Bagong Pilipinas caravan in Davao del Norte gives P913M aid, services

Members of the House of Representatives attend the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, on Friday, June 7, 2024. According to the Office of Speaker Martin Romualdez, P913 million worth of government services, cash, and in-kind assistance have been set aside for 250,000 beneficiaries of the province. | PHOTO: Gabriel P. Lalu/ INQUIRER.net

TAGUM CITY, Davao del Norte — Some P913 million worth of assistance and government services were allocated for the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) in Davao del Norte, which is expected to benefit 250,000 residents of the province.

The two-day event that started Thursday, June 6, was touted as the biggest-ever BPSF to date, as it also attracted the biggest number of attendees from the House of Representatives led by Speaker Martin Romualdez.

According to Romualdez, 62 national government agencies participated in the activity to offer more than 235 services to beneficiaries.

He also said that of the P913 million worth of programs and services for the BPSF in Davao del Norte, P483 million would be in the form of cash aid via two Department of Social Worker and Development (DSWD) programs: Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) and Ayuda sa Kapos sa Kita Program (AKAP).

“Lubos po ang ating galak sa dami ng mamamayang na-serbisyuhan ng Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair na hatid ng ating mahal na Pangulong Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. sa Davao del Norte. Damang-dama ng ating mga mamamayan ang tulong at kalinga ng ating pamahalaan,”  he said in a statement.

(We are really happy that many individuals received aid and services through the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair brought by our beloved President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. in Davao del Norte.  Our people can really feel the assistance and care of our government.)

READ: Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair to be held in 3 Mindanao provinces

“Ito na po ang pinakamalaking Service Caravan sa dami ng benepisyaryong natulungan. Halos 220,000 na ang ating naserbisyuhan at nabigyan ng tulong pinansyal. Patunay lamang ito na prayoridad in Pangulong Marcos Jr. ang bawat mamamayang Pilipino,” he added.

(This is the biggest Service Caravan, of all the many beneficiaries assisted.  We have helped around 220,000 already through services and financial help.  This only proves that President Marcos gives priority to each Filipino citizen.)

Tagum Mayor Rey Uy said he has been in politics for a long time but this is the first time that the national government came down to Davao del Norte and held a huge program here.

“Super, super (thankful). Matagal na ako sa pulitika, since 1988 po, this is the first time na may administration na nag-iisip para sa kanilang tao. This administration, administrasyon ni Presidente Marcos, may malasakit sa (tao),” he said.

(Super, super thankful. I have been in politics for a long time, since 1988, but this is the first time that an administration thought of the people. This administration of President Marcos cares for the people.)

“So, so far ito ang pinaka-biggest (BPSF), pinaghandaan po namin para makita ng Presidente Marcos at saka ni Speaker Romualdez,” he added.

(So, so far this is the biggest BPSF, we really prepared for this so that President Marcos and Speaker Romualdez would see.)

Uy, and other local officials like acting Davao Del Norte Gov. De Carlo Uy and Davao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Alan Dujali were present during the event and served as co-hosts of the BPSF caravan in the province.

Members of the House of Representatives attend the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, on Friday, June 7, 2024. According to the Office of Speaker Martin Romualdez, P913 million worth of government services, cash, and in-kind assistance have been set aside for 250,000 beneficiaries of the province. | PHOTO: Gabriel P. Lalu/ INQUIRER.net

A total of 167 House lawmakers attended the BPSF caravan in Davao del Norte. They included Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Deputy Speaker Yasser Alonto Balindong, and former president and current Pampanga 2nd District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who is a first-time attendee of a BPSF event.

Romualdez said at least 80,000 individuals benefitted from the AICS and AKAP payouts, totaling P260 million.

For educational services, Romualdez said packages include different scholarship programs of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority and Commission on Higher Education.

To date, BPSF has assisted more than 2 million Filipinos, he added.

“We made history din po dahil lagpas dalawang milyong beneficiaries na ang ating naabot sa ating BPSF. Lagpas dalawang milyong Pilipino na po ang nakikinabang sa direktang benepisyo ng Service Caravan sa mamamayan,” according to the Speaker.

(We also made history because over 2 million beneficiaries have been reached by the BPSF. Over 2 million Filipinos have been aided directly by the Service Caravan.)

READ: Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair launched, aims to serve 400,000 Filipinos

“Hindi po natutulog ang ating pamahalaan. We continue to find ways to alleviate the condition of Filipino families, especially those who need assistance to tide them through many difficult days. Sinisikap ng administrasyong Marcos na iahon ang ating bansa sa kahirapan at sabay-sabay na aangat ang lahat,” he added.

(Our government is not sleeping. We continue to find ways to alleviate the condition of Filipino families, especially those who need assistance to tide them through many difficult days. The Marcos administration strives to pull the country out of poverty, and we will all rise together.)

Members of the House of Representatives attend the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, on Friday, June 7, 2024. According to the Office of Speaker Martin Romualdez, P913 million worth of government services, cash, and in-kind assistance have been set aside for 250,000 beneficiaries of the province. | PHOTO: Gabriel P. Lalu/ INQUIRER.net

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. was also in Tagum on Thursday, June 6, to distribute nearly P60  million aid to Davao provinces through the Presidential Assistance to Farmers and Fisherfolk (PAFF), which aims to help agricultural sector workers hit by the El Niño phenomenon.

Specifically, Marcos delivered P10 million each to Davao de Oro, Davao del Norte, Davao Oriental, and Davao Occidental; and P19.52 million to Davao del Sur.

House Deputy Secretary General Sofonias Gabonada Jr., who is a part of the BPSF National Secretariat, said the big number of beneficiaries only proves that the Marcos administration, with the backing of the lower chamber, has been “doing everything to provide support for Filipinos.”

The BPSF in Davao del Norte is the 19th caravan since the program was created, and the 8th event in Mindanao – a region seen as the bailiwick of the Dutertes, who have been critical of Marcos and Romualdez recently.

Davao del Norte, for the longest time, was also a stronghold of former speaker and current Davao del Norte 1st District Rep. Pantaleon Alvarez, a known ally of former president Rodrigo Duterte.

“The BPSF in Davao del Norte is the 19th installment of the Service Caravan, which is envisioned to visit all 82 provinces in the Philippines. It is the 8th in the whole of Mindanao, together with Zamboanga City, Bukidnon, Agusan del Norte, Sultan Kudarat, Davao de Oro, and Tawi-Tawi,” Gabonada said.