House Speaker Martin Romualdez (left), President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. (Speaker’s office)

The Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) is a testament to President Marcos’ desire to immediately assist Filipinos in need. 

Thus, said House Speaker Martin Romualdez, who represented Marcos in the launching of BPSF in Isabela on Saturday, Nov. 25. 

“Ang administrasyon ng ating mahal na Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ay handang tumulong sa lahat ng nangangarap at kumikilos para sa mas magandang buhay,” Romualdez said in a speech at the Isabela Sports Complex. 

(The administration of our dear President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is ready to help all those who dream and work hard for a better life.) 

“Ito po ang pangako ng Bagong Pilipinas – isang nagkakaisang pamahalaan na hindi naghihintay. Bagkus ay kusang umaabot sa mamamayan upang matugunan ang inyong mga pangangailangan sa mas lalong madaling panahon,” he added. 

(This is the promise of Bagong Pilipinas – a united government that does not wait. Rather, it voluntarily reaches out to the people to meet their needs as soon as possible.) 

Saturday was the first time that the BPSF went to its Region II. It was the eighth installment of the service caravan overall. 

A total of P500 million worth of programs and services was carried out, including P152 million worth of cash assistance to citizens of the province. 

A total of 36 government agencies participated in the event and offered over 195 services to at least 100,000 expected beneficiaries. 

“Sa serbisyo fair, nagsama-sama ang iba’t-ibang mga sangay ng pamahalaan upang maihatid at maipaabot nang mas mabilis ang mahahalagang impormasyon at serbisyo tungo sa ating sama-samang pag-unlad,” Romualdez noted. 

(In the service fair, various branches of the government came together to distribute and quickly deliver important information and services towards our united development.) 

Among the services offered were the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD’s) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program, which will have a province-wide payout in all three cities and 34 municipalities of Isabela. 

It is expected to reach over 42,000 individual beneficiaries with a total payout of P140 million 

Other province-wide activities include scholarship programs of the Technical Education And Skills Development Authority (TESDA) and Commission on Higher Education (CHEd), plus livelihood assistance for multiple sectors in pre-identified eligible clients across the province. 

"Batid po namin na hindi madali sa marami sa atin, lalo na kayong nakatira sa malalayong lugar, ang pumunta at makahingi ng tulong sa pamahalaan. Kaya nga po, sa serbisyo fair na ito, ang pamahalaan na po ang lumalapit sa inyo,” said Romualdez. 

(We know that it is not easy for many of us, especially those of you who live in remote areas, to go and ask for help from the government. That's why, in this service fair, the government is the one going to you.) --Dexter Barro II