DAVAO CITY – President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday, September 29, provided housing units, job opportunities, educational scholarships, and financial aid to families of uniformed personnel who lost their lives while performing their duties.
Marcos led the formal turnover of the aid to 300 recipients of the Comprehensive Social Benefits Program (CSBP) at the Dusit Thani Residence in Lanang here. He said the recipients are entitled to the assistance.
Vice President and Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sara Duterte, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr., and Special Assistant to the President Anton Lagdameo assisted the President at the event.
Presidential Assistant for Eastern Mindanao (OPAMINE) Leo Tereso Magno was also in attendance.
Dubbed "Pagpupugay sa mga Bayani ng Bansang Makabayan (PBBM) (Honoring the Heroes of the Nation's Patriotism)," the event recognized the heroism and passion of uniformed personnel who lost their lives or were injured while fulfilling their commitment to serve their country.
The DILG, as lead implementer of the CSBP, guaranteed that swift and effective measures are in place to efficiently and promptly provide aid to eligible individuals within the program.
Marcos thanked the families of the deceased personnel who "dedicated their lives not just for their own sake but for the entire Filipino nation." Among the benefits they received were housing valued at P400,000 per unit, job opportunities, scholarships, and financial support.
The government created the CSBP to assist families of deceased personnel who served in the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.
Since 2016, the program has given a total of P468.75 million in special financial assistance and P308.45 million worth of shelter support. The program started during the term of President Rodrigo R. Duterte (PRRD) and continued by the Marcos administration.
“You can expect that the government will continue to exert efforts to give support to our police, military, and other sectors so they can fulfill their mandate effectively,” Marcos said.