Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos (center) (PPAB)

The conduct of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) will help solve the problem of government "underspending". 

Thus, said House Senior Deputy Majority leader Ilocos Norte 1st district Rep. Sandro Marcos in an interview with local reporters over the weekend in his district office. 

“If you will look at the one of the ‘problematic’ indicators sa economic growth for the last quarter is hindi daw gumagastos yung gobyerno (they said the government hasn't been spending), underspending," he said 

"So if you look at the Bagong Pilipinas fair, it’s actually another avenue para gumastos and gobyerno (it's actually another venue for the government to spend)," noted the presidential son. 

"So it means ginagamit na nila yung pondo (they are using up the funds), which is a good sign and hopefully it will lead to more healthy economic growth numbers in the coming quarter,” explained Marcos. 

Launched at multiple locations nationwide last Sept. 23, the BPSF is an all-encompassing service caravan. Think of a government one-stop shop, but on steroids. 

“As the President said, natutuwa siya na nangyari sa mga iba’t ibang probinsya (he's happy that it's happening in the different provinces). Ang gusto niya dapat sa buong Pilipinas mangyayari (What he wants is for this to happen in the entire Philippines). 

"So if you look every weekend this month, I think may dalawang probinsya na pupuntahan yung fair. So we’re gonna do that until lahat ng probinsya mapupuntahan nila (I think the fair will be brought to two provinces. So we're gonna do that until all provinces have been served)," Marcos said. 

Among the major social services offered by the BPSF include enrollment in the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) or Government Internship Program (GIP), legal counseling, distribution of farm inputs and machinery, Tulong Dunong Program, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) scholarships and program enrollment, financial assistance programs, Kadiwa stores, and SB Corp. services for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), 

Also offered are educational assistance, Land Transportation Office (LTO) driver’s license renewal, Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) passport application, National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance application, police clearance application, License to Own and Posses Firearm (LTOPF) renewal/application, and Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) birth certificate application.  

The BPSF also facilitates for participants Pag-ibig membership and housing loan, Security Social Service (SSS) membership application, Government Service Insurance System Unified Multi-Purpose Identification (GSIS UMID) application, Postal ID application, National ID application, PhilHealth consultation, public service training, Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC) renewal, Public Attorney's Office (PAO) free legal services, and PhilHealth registration.