When “Bagong Pilipinas” was introduced, skepticism entered the minds of many. Would this be another fleeting branding exercise quickly forgotten in the whirlwind of news cycles? However, it appears that this time is different, with the nation's top leader anchoring his messages firmly on "Bagong Pilipinas,” encouraging all to welcome a new era of national development.
The President articulated this vision during the launch of the “Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair” service caravan in Nabua, Camarines Sur on Sept. 23, 2023. Simultaneously launched in Laoag, Ilocos Norte; Tolosa, Leyte; and Poblacion Monkayo, Davao de Oro, Malacañang has announced plans to extend this service caravan soon to all 82 provinces in the country.
According to Malacañang, the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair is “the country’s biggest service caravan aimed at providing major government services to less fortunate Filipinos in various communities across the country, featuring the government’s flagship programs, such as Kadiwa ng Pangulo, Passport on Wheels, driver’s license registration and assistance, among others.”
In his address during the launch, the President highlighted that the service caravan is only “one of the first initiatives of his administration to give hope for a new beginning for the Filipino people by providing them with all the services at the comfort of their provinces.”
“Magkakahiwalay man ang ating mga isla, pinagbubuklod-buklod naman tayo ng isang diwa at isang pangarap: isang Bagong Pilipinas para sa Bagong Pilipino (We may be separated by islands, but we are united by one spirit and one dream: a new Philippines for the new Filipino),” the President said.
On his part, Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, who is one of the principal movers of the fair, said that the country’s biggest service caravan aimed to bring more than 60 government services to 82 provinces nationwide.
“The service fair truly breathed life into the aspirations of President Marcos to bring many government programs within the reach of people who may not have the means to avail of these benefits,” Romualdez said.
The Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair national secretariat is composed of the Office of the President, the Office of the Speaker, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), and the House of Representatives. The fair offers social services from various agencies such as the Department of Health (DOH), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), among others.
In terms of regulatory functions, the service fair extends services from agencies such as the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), Philippine National Police (PNP), Land Transportation Office (LTO), National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and more.
During the launch, the President expressed his expectation of witnessing the best in every Filipino as both the government and the public collaborate for economic growth, national unity, and overall prosperity. The service caravan is proof that things can be done well for the Filipino if there is cooperation and vision.
In this service program, designed for the convenience of the majority, “Bagong Pilipinas” reveals its potential as more than just a slogan to memorize — it becomes something that can be realized. While history is replete with government slogans, may “Bagong Pilipinas” be the one to finally lead us in the right direction.