PRESIDENT Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr. on Saturday led the successful grand launching of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) in four provinces, which is expected to initially benefit 400,000-plus Filipinos seeking to avail more than 60 services offered by various government agencies with at least P1 billion fund.

“President Marcos led the ambitious endeavor of bringing government services closer to the people, even to the farthest corners of the country.

Naniniwala ang ating Pangulo na dapat maging pro-active ang ating mga ahensya sa pagbibigay serbisyo sa mga mamamayan,” Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, one of the lead organizers of the BPSF, said.

“The dry run in Biliran last month was a huge success. And with the President’s participation in this grand launch, we believe that everyone involved in this event–especially those in government–will be running on passion and inspiration, knowing that the Chief Executive himself leads the charge in serving our fellow citizens,” the leader of the 311-strong House of Representatives added.

The BPSF national secretariat comprises the Office of the President, the Office of the Speaker, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) and the House of Representatives.

From the originally two-day event, organizers decided to stretch the event until Friday this week due to the influx of participants which has so far attracted a record high of 293,046 portal registered Filipinos as of 11:19 Saturday morning.

During the August 26, 2023 BPSF dry-run in Biliran, more than 22,000 people benefitted from the government programs under one roof for the two-day event.

Registration is still ongoing and participants could balloon to 400,000 plus in the coming days.

The total number of registered citizens/beneficiaries in the BPSF portals were the following: Davao de Oro, 69,552; Ilocos Norte, 75,402; Camarines Sur, 95,750; and Leyte, 52,342.

The BPSF–the country’s biggest service caravan–was simultaneously launched Saturday in Laoag City in Ilocos Norte, in the municipality of Nabua in Camarines Sur, in Tolosa in Leyte and in Poblacion Monkayo in Davao de Oro.

No less than PBBM led the launch in Camarines Sur, while Speaker Romualdez took the lead in opening the event in Leyte. House Senior Deputy Majority Leader and Ilocos Norte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Alexander “Sandro” Araneta Marcos served as the running point in the Serbisyo Caravan in Ilocos Norte, while Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo was in Davao de Oro launch.

“We have digital portals for each event where people can register for a particular government service. So far, we have received an overwhelming response from the people.

We have at least 293,046 people registered as of this time, and more are still trying to register,” Speaker Romualdez said.

“Many times, the distance to urban centers discourages the people from far-flung areas. The BPSF is our way of bringing government services closer to them.

We will have more of these Serbisyo Fairs as President Marcos wants this institutionalized, more or less,” the House leader from Leyte continued, adding the BPSF will visit all 82 provinces of the country to serve millions of Filipino beneficiaries.

Over 60 government services were available to the people during the grand launch.

Under social services, the Department of Health (DoH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development (DHSUD), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), National Food Authority (NFA), Office of Civil Defense (OCD) and the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) participated.

Under livelihood and educational services, the following agencies offered services: Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Technical Skills and Development Authority (TESDA), DENR, OCD, and FDA.

Under regulatory functions, the BPSF extended services from the following government agencies: Department of Foreign Affairs, Philippine National Police (PNP), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Bureau (LTFRB), Professional Regulations Commission (PRC), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

Other government services include those from the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT), Government Service Insurance System (GSIS), Social Security System, PhilHealth, Pag-Ibig, Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP).

For every province, there are some events specific to the location, and some government services will be offered solely to residents of an area.

For example, in Leyte where Speaker Romualdez led the launch, TESDA provided services such as free haircuts, massages and nail care, aside from the usual scholarship programs, Competency Assessment and Certification, and skills demonstration.

Free Pasasalamat Concerts in four provinces were also scheduled.

Among the major social services offered by the BPSF include: Enrollment in TUPAD or GIP, Legal counseling, Distribution of farm inputs and machinery, Tulong Dunong Program, TESDA scholarships and program enrollment, Financial assistance programs, Kadiwa Stores, SB Corp. services for MSMEs, Educational assistance, LTO driver’s license renewal, DFA passport application, NBI clearance application, Police clearance application, LTOPF renewal/application, PSA birth certificate application, Pag-ibig membership and housing loan, SSS membership application, GSIS UMID application, Postal ID application, National ID application, PhilHealth consultation, Public service training, PRC renewal, PAO free legal services, PhilHealth registration

“I believe that these Serbisyo Fairs will directly benefit the people. As public servants, especially those who will be directly serving the people, may the thought of helping our fellow citizens be a rewarding experience for all of us,” Speaker Romualdez said.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Ryan Ponce Pacpaco