Siquijor residents get cash and other aid through a government fair

Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, assisted by Siquijor Governor Jake Vincent Villa and Lone District Representative Zaldy Villa, distributes cash and rice to 3,000 beneficiaries of Cash Assistance and Rice Discount (CARD) during its launch at Dugukanan Capitol in Siquijor on Sunday afternoon (Feb. 18, 2024).

MANILA, Philippines — Thousands of residents in Siquijor received cash and social assistance over the weekend as representatives of various government agencies visited the province.

The event is part of ‘Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo’ Fair (BPSF) being held from February 18 to 19.

According to House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, BPSF is set to deliver over P300 million worth of programs and money to an estimated 50,000 beneficiaries in Siquijor.

“In Bagong Pilipinas, everyone is included in progress. Even though Siquijor is among the smallest provinces in Central Visayas, you are still part of the New Philippines,” said Romualdez in a statement.

“This is evidenced by the launch today of the Service Fair in your area,” he added in Filipino.

Romualdez delivered the keynote address in the two-day event’s kickoff on Sunday.

“As of 10:00 pm on Saturday, a total of 40,626 residents of the province have registered as BPSF beneficiaries,” the statement noted.

Among the services being given is a payout of Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) of Department of Social Welfare and Development.

The activities also include the distribution of free seedlings from Department of Environment and Natural Resources, consumer education programs from Department of Trade and Industry, and multipurpose loans from Small Business Corporation.

This is the 12th time such a fair is being held in a province.