BPSF Samar: P700M worth of services, aid received by 60,000 beneficiaries
THE Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) 2024 was successfully launched during the last quarter of the year in Samar, which is a primary initiative of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. who aims to bring government services closer to the people.
The event took place last November 22 and would run until the following day at the Northwest Samar State University in Calbayog City, and distributed more than P700-million worth of programs, services and financial aid to more than 60,000 beneficiaries, which strengthens it as one of the most important mechanisms in delivering public services.
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez stressed that one of the important aspects of the BPSF program is to be able to reach out to communities that do not receive sufficient service.
“Ito ang patuloy nating tugon sa pagnanais ng ating Pangulong Marcos na ilapit ang serbisyo ng pamahalaan sa ating mga kababayan. Hindi lamang ito programa; ito ay simbolo ng taos-pusong serbisyo at pagkakaisa ng pamahalaan at ng sambayanan,” Speaker Romualdez said in a statement.
The BPSF Samar leg was participated by 62 government agencies and 63 congressmen of the House of Representatives, who offered more than 255 services. At the event, they also distributed P400-million worth of cash assistance to pre-identified beneficiaries in the entire province.
“This event represented our commitment to bringing concrete, tangible solutions to the everyday challenges faced by our constituents. Sa pamamagitan ng programang ito, naihatid natin ang pag-asa at tulong sa bawat pamilyang Pilipino,” said Speaker Romualdez, who leads more than 300 representatives in Congress.
Among the top activities at the event was the distribution of assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), with a total worth of P300-million that benefitted more than 20,000 individuals.
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) also offered scholarships that benefitted several students. While the programs for livelihood were also supported by several sectors.
The program started with a ceremonial turnover of 19 programs of 14 government agencies.
The culmination of the event would be on November 23 with a “Pagkakaisa Concert” to be held at the Calbayog City Coastal Road, where they are expecting more than 10,000 people to attend. The concert would be part of the celebration of unity which is being promoted by the BPSF.
They also handed out P316-million worth of in-kind aid at the event, including 110,000 kilos of rice, social services, health programs, agricultural aid and regulatory services. The services they provided were direct responses to what the beneficiaries in Samar said they needed.
Governor Sharee Ann Tan, Samar 1st District Representative Stephen James Tan and Samar 2nd District Representative Reynolds Michael Tan, in coordination with the Calbayog City Government, as local officials were the main hosts of the event.
Speaker Romualdez expressed his gratitude to the local host of the event, because their hard work led to the successful distribution of assistance in their province.
The Samar BPSF is the 25th series of the program, and the fourth time in Region VIII or Eastern Visayas, which shows that the government is committed to giving aid to all 82 provinces. This step strengthens the government’s dedication in making sure that services would be made available in the entire country.
Among the activities in the Samar leg was the giving of P255-million worth of livelihood, P219-million worth of educational support, and P30-million worth of agricultural support.
This initiative does not only respond to the present needs, but would also provide a long-lasting effect to the communities.
Speaker Romuldez also praised the cooperation of the national government, local government, and private sector that made sure that the Samar BPSF would be a success.
“Ang tagumpay ng programang ito ay patunay na kapag nagkakaisa ang pamahalaan at ang sambayanan, lahat ay kaya nating abutin,” Speaker Romualdez said
