House of Representatives. SCREENSHOT FROM RTVM/LIVE
MANILA, Philippines — The Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF), where social assistance and key government services are brought closer to people from different provinces, is proof that government funds are utilized properly.
This was the belief of three majority lawmakers from the House of Representatives — Deputy Speaker David Suarez, Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers, and Manila 1st District Rep. Ernesto Dionisio Jr. — who touted the benefits that the program has brought.
According to Suarez, the inputs gained from the BPSF that House lawmakers participated in can be used when deliberating the proposed 2025 national budget.
“Nasasaksihan po namin ‘yung implementasyon ng pondong inaprubahan namin noong nakaraang taon. We’re talking about hundreds of millions being downloaded directly to individuals,” Suarez said in a press briefing on Wednesday.
(We witnessed the implementation of the funds that we approved last year.)
“Come the budget hearings, we can actually say yes, the budget and the funds were used properly and effectively, and the BPSF was one proper conduit that the funds benefitted our less fortunate brothers and sisters,” he added.
Barbers also emphasized that it is only during President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration that programs were brought literally to Filipinos’ area of residence.
“Para sakin, isang patunay ito na ang BBM administration at syempre dito sa Mababang Kapulungan, under the leadership of our Speaker, has made the delivery of public service to the people hanggang sa baba. So, ito yung sinasabing ‘bringing the government closer to the people’,” he said.
(For me, this is proof that the BBM administration and of course the House of Representatives under the leadership of our Speaker, has made the delivery of public service to the people reach the ground. This is what they say ‘bringing the government closer to the people.’)
“First time ito nangyari sa ating bansa at ito ay napakagandang idea na ipinatupad ng ating Speaker at ng ating mahal na Presidente,” he added.
(It is the first time that this has happened to our country, and this is a good idea implemented by our Speaker and our beloved President.)
On Friday, the BPSF will be in Tacloban — which is expected to be the biggest yet, with P1.2 billion worth of aid set aside for Eastern Visayas residents. But aside from the P1.2 billion assistance, House Deputy Secretary General and BPSF National Secretariat head Sofonias Gabonada Jr. and Tingog party-list Rep. Jude Acidre said that 241 House lawmakers will be present at the fair.
READ: Biggest BPSF ever: P1.2 billion aid ready for Eastern Visayas
According to Gabonada, the BPSF will be the 21st, after three successive tours in Mindanao. Previously, the biggest BPSF in terms of aid given and lawmaker attendance was in Tagum, where P913 million worth of aid was given.
Over 167 lawmakers also attended the event, including the Speaker himself and former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.
READ: Bagong Pilipinas caravan in Davao del Norte gives P913M aid, services
Dionisio said he believes the program has a positive effect on governance because officials get to see what is really happening on the ground.
“Yun bang pag pumupunta ka kasi sa kalsada, you’re going down to the grassroots level sa ground. Nakikita natin kung ano talaga ‘yung sitwasyon, pagbaba ng BPSF, makikita natin yung talagang needs ng mga tao,” Dionisio said.
(It’s like going to the streets, you’re going down to the grassroots level on the ground. We see the real situation when the BPSF reaches down and provides the people’s needs.)
“So, having said that, I really applaud ‘yung move ni Presidente Bongbong Marcos at Speaker Martin Romualdez for doing the BPSF na direktang nare-receive yung tulong ng bawat Pilipino, inaabot yung mga Pilipino,” he added.
(So, having said that, I really applaud the move of President Bongbong Marcos and Speaker Martin Romualdez for doing the BPSF where Filipinos directly receive aid.)
Suarez and Dionisio said that with the success of the program, it should be continued or institutionalized.
“Congratulations to our President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos and, of course, kudos to our Speaker Martin Romualdez for their commitment to ensure the continuity of this program for the succeeding months and years to come,” Suarez said.
“That’s why for us here in Congress, we will make sure that the funding of such programs mentioned by DS Jayjay Suarez will be protected, not only maintained, but increased if possible — increase the number of beneficiaries of such programs,” Dionisio added.