House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Speaker’s office)

Davao City---House Speaker Martin Romualdez rolled out on Thursday, Sept. 5 two never-before-seen benefits in the 23 iterations so far of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF). 

These two--which gave the service caravan here a special flavor--were the "zero billing” program for all patients of a government hospital, and a distribution of a P10,000 cash aid to the city’s “poorest of the poor.” 

Debuted in the heart of Duterte territory, the programs seek to provide medical aid to those seeking health services in government hospitals and a significant cash assistance to those who struggle to make ends meet. 

On Thursday, or during the launch of the two-day Davao City BPSF, Speaker Romualdez visited the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) here to meet the hospital officials, staff, and patients. 

He announced that--through President Marcos' orders--P50 million from the Department of Health’s (DOH) Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients (MAIP) will be downloaded to SPMC for the zero billing of all patients seeking medical attention during the BPSF. 

“Isinama ko ang mga kongresista ng 19th Congress para makita ng buong Davao City na mahal na mahal po natin ang Davaoeños," Romualdez said. 

(I brought the congressmen of the 19th Congress with me so that the entire Davao City can see that we love Davaoeños very much.) 

The House leader explained that the downloading of P50-million MAIP funds will allow patients who will be confined at the SPMC to not get charged at all. "Wala nang babayaran (There's nothing to pay for. Zero billing for all patients.) 

On top of this, each patient-beneficiary will receive 10 kilos of rice. 

Meanwhile, Romualdez said 250 local folk composed of homeless people, mendicants, and indigents, each received P10,000 from Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), plus 20 kilos of rice. 

Then cash aid program was dubbed the “Tulong Para sa Dabawenyo” and held at the University of Southeastern Philippines' parking lot. 

The Leyte 1st district congressman said he will coordinate with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to register the unregistered poorest of the poor. 

But the benefits didn't stop there; Romualdez also announced that P10,000 will be given to each of the 6,000 SPMC employees from the DSWD Ayuda para sa Kapos ang kita Program (AKAP). 

Romualdez said these two programs validate the Marcos administration’s campaign for a Bagong Pilipinas (New Philippines). 

Aside from these two new programs, the more familiar "side events" of the all-encompassing service caravan were also held here Thursday. 

These are the Cash Assistance and Rice Distribution (CARD) Program, the Integrated Scholarships and Incentives for the Youth (ISIP) Program, and the Start-Up, Investments, Business Opportunities and Livelihood (SIBOL) Program. 

Romualdez--along with his fellow congressmen--attended all of these events, which were held in separate areas in the city. 

Each of these more targeted ayuda programs benefited 3,000 people, who received cash aid of P5,000 and five kilos of rice.