The opening of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) in Sultan Kudarat, which was attended by House Speaker Martin Romualdez and lawmakers from Mindanao (PPAB)

The so-called “Young Guns” in the House of Representatives collectively praised the inclusive Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) that was recently held in Sultan Kudarat.

“It’s a clear message na walang maiiwan sa administration ng ating mahal na Pangulong (that there will be no one left behind under the administration of our dear President) Bongbong Marcos,” Isabela 6th district Rep. Inno Dy said in a press briefing on Monday, Feb. 26.

“Napakataas po ng moral ng ating mga kababayan dahil nga, imagine lahat ng mga government agencies na ang pumupunta sa bawat probinsya sa ibat ibang syudad para maghatid ng tulong sa atinig mga kababayan,” the young lawmaker said.

(The morale of our countrymen is very high because, imagine that all the government agencies travel to every province, to different cities to deliver assistance to our countrymen.)

During the BPSF Sunday in Sultan Kudarat, major social services from the government were provided to an estimated 150,000 Mindanaons.

Doled out during the service fair was a total of P1.2 billion in cash aid and other forms of assistance.

A total of P200 million worth of cash assistance was also granted under the Department of Social Welfare and Development's (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) and Department of Labor and Employment's (DOLE) Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD).

Dy said this government aid will be of huge assistance not only to the residents of Sultan Kudarat, but the economy of the province as well.

Fellow Young Gun Taguig 2nd district Rep. Amparo Maria Zamora says the success of the BPSF is a testament to the collaboration between the Executive and Legislative Branches of the government.

“When the Executive and the Legislative work together, hand in hand, mas marami talagang Pilipino ang natutulungan (more Filipinos will receive help),” said Zamora.

The House of Representatives and the Senate make up the legislative branch, while the executive branch is composed of the Cabinet and executive departments headed by the President.

Huge attendance confirmed

Meanwhile, Police Col. Christopher Bermudez, Sultan Kudarat provincial police chief, confirmed the reported attendance of 150,000 at the BPSF, while the Pagkakaisa Concert drew a crowd of 120,000.

“The event (BPSF), which offered to a total of 150,000 beneficiaries in different government programs and services in the morning, and a total of 120,000 attendees during the Pasasalamat Concert (Pagkakaisa Concert), concluded without any major incidents and ended Day 1 about 11:30 pm with fruitful result,” Bermudez said in his letter to Police Regional Director of Region XII.

The BPSF was led by Speaker Martin Romualdez. It was attended by nearly 50 of his fellow members from the House of Representatives, mostly coming from Mindanao.

A total of 500,000 kilos of rice were distributed to residents in Sultan Kudarat, prompting Governo Pax Mangudadatu to call Romualdez "Mr. Rice" in his speech.