 |
| Around 253,000 beneficiaries in Eastern Visayas receive P1.26 billion in aid and services at the biggest Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair. Photo: Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair/Facebook |
TACLOBAN CITY – On Friday, August 2, Eastern Visayas witnessed a historic event where approximately 253,000 beneficiaries received substantial assistance, including cash aid and livelihood equipment during the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) held in Tacloban City. House of Representatives Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez led the fair, marking the program's first anniversary.
Speaker Romualdez announced that a total of P1.26 billion in cash aid, government services, and other forms of assistance were distributed to the beneficiaries. He emphasized the success of President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr.'s program in reaching numerous Filipinos in remote provinces, highlighting the essence of the Bagong Pilipinas campaign to bring government services closer to the people.
Romualdez emphasized the program's commitment to visiting all provinces and key cities across the country to deliver aid. He also highlighted the fair as an opportunity for the House of Representatives to ensure proper utilization of funds, especially as Congress prepares to deliberate on the proposed P6.352 trillion budget for 2025. This initiative allows verification of the effectiveness of government programs, particularly the newly received National Expenditure Program.
This event marked the BPSF's first transition from single-province fairs to simultaneous regional programs. On Thursday, House Deputy Secretary General and BPSF National Secretariat head Sofonias Gabonada Jr. announced that additional mini-fairs would be held concurrently in other Eastern Visayas provinces.
The Tacloban BPSF also saw the attendance of 241 House members and Senator Ramon "Bong" Revilla, making it the largest in terms of government official participation. Gabonada noted that 56 national government agencies offered over 328 services to the beneficiaries, with a significant portion of the total P1.26 billion assistance provided in cash. # (Source: 1)