A TOTAL of P300 million aid and services were brought by the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) of Pres. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., which was held in Agusan del Norte last March 22 and 23.

At least 63 congressmen attended the event to show their support to the program. Sen. Ramon Bong Revilla Jr. also attended the event.

According to House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, this is the firat ever Serbisyo caravan in Caraga region and the 14th installment of BPSF since it started last year.

“Gaya ng sinabi namin sa naunang bayan na binisita ng Serbisyo Fair, hindi hadlang ang distansya upang maabot ng pamahalaan ang mamamayang kanilang pinaglilingkuran, at ang lahat ay kasama sa pag-unlad ng ating bansa,” said Speaker Romualdez, who represented Pres. Marcos in the activity.

“Malayo man po ang Butuan City o ang Agusan del Norte sa Maynila, malapit naman po sa isip at puso ng ating mga pinuno ang inyong kalagayan at kapakanan,” added the leader of Congress, which has a total of 300 strong members.

There are 53 government offices participating in the activity, of which 293 services will be provided to 80,000 beneficiaries during the two-day event.

The amount of cash assistance distributed at the event was worth P122 million.

As many as 63 district representatives and partylists joined Speaker Romualdez in the event organized by Agusan Del Norte Rep. Jose “Joboy” Aquino II. Sen. Ramon ‘Bong’ Revilla also attended the gathering.

According to Senior Deputy Speaker and Pampanga Rep. Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales, this is the largest gathering of congressmen for the launch of the BPSF of the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos, Jr.

“This is the biggest display of unity and solidarity in BPSF next to the Sultan Kudarat service caravan, where almost 50 members of the House of Representatives, mostly from Mindanao attended.

At tayo po ay nasa Mindanao uli. Damang-dama natin ang pagkakaisa ng mga mambabatas sa programa ni PBBM dito sa BPSF,” Gonzales said.

According to House Majority Leader and Zamboanga City Rep. Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe, the large number of congressmen at the BPSF event is a demonstration of the House’s support for the program of President Marcos and Speaker Romualdez, one of the main proponents of the Service caravan.

“Lahat po ng umattend sa BPSF Agusan del Norte ay naniniwala sa adhikain ni PBBM tungkol sa paglalapit ng serbisyo sa ating mamamayan. Congress is already on break, and these lawmakers can be anywhere they want to, but they chose to be there sa Agusan del Norte para makiisa,” Dalipe said.

Aside from the BPSF, the Cash and Rice Distribution (CARD) Program was also launched in Agusan del Norte where 3,000 residents were given cash assistance. It was held at the Provincial Capitol Gym in Butuan City on March 22.

The CARD program was the brainchild of Speaker Romualdez in response to President Marcos’ challenge to help the poor affected by the increase in the price of rice.

The beneficiaries received P2,000 cash and P1,000 worth of rice or 25 kilos.

Someone also sold rice for P40 at the event for those who want to buy.

Along with the launch of the BPSF, assistance was also given under the Farmers Assistance for Recovery and Modernization (FARM), Integrated Scholarships and Incentives Program (ISIP) for the Youth; and Start-up, Investment, Business Opportunity and Livelihood (SIBOL).

Up to 2,000 FARM beneficiaries were given P2,000 financial assistance and five kilos of rice each. It was held at the Villa Paraiso Covered Court in Barangay Ampayon, Butuan City.

The ISIP for the Youth payout was held at the Philippine Science High School Gymnasium in Barangay Tiniwasan, Butuan City. The 3,000 beneficiaries will each be given P2,000 cash aid every six months. They were also given five kilos of rice each.

The beneficiaries are also included in the Tulong Dunong Program (TDP) of CHED to get scholarship assistance worth P15,000 per year. Parents of unemployed students can also join the DOLE-TUPAD Program.

Under the SIBOL program, financial assistance of P5,000 each was given to 2,000 small students in Barangay Imedejas Covered Court in Butuan City.

The program aims to help small entrepreneurs. They were also given five kilos of rice each.