The administration-backed Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) will make its way to Davao City--the bailiwick of the Dutertes--on Thursday, Sept. 5.
Over P1.2 billion worth of government programs, services, and assistance packages are in store for an estimated 250,000 beneficiaries.
Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair travels to heart of 'Duterte country' in Davao City
Sep 4, 2024 03:54 PM
At a glance
House Speaker Martin Romualdez (left), former president Rodrigo Duterte (Facebook, Malacañang photo)
This will be the boldest Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) yet.
The all-encompassing public service caravan--which is very much identified with President Marcos and his top lieutenant House Speaker Martin Romualdez--will travel right in the heart of Duterte territory in Davao City on Thursday, Sept. 5 for the 23rd staging of program.
Over P1.2 billion worth of government programs, services, and assistance packages are in store for residents of Davao City and nearby areas in Mindanao with this BPSF,
Romualdez will represent President Marcos at the launch of the two-day Davao City BPSF. At least 190 lawmakers from the House of Representatives are expected to join the Speaker during the event.
Marcos and Romualdez have had a very public falling out with the Dutertes--primarily Vice President Sara Duterte, effectively ending the super popular UniTeam from the 2022 elections.
On the other hand, Vice President Duterte's father, former president Rodrigo Duterte, have had more bad things to say than good about Marcos and his cousin Romualdez.
At any rate, the President and the Speaker intend to bring the "ayuda" fair to the Davao region for the third time, with 38 participating agencies offering 57 programs and services, Over 250,000 beneficiaries expected to be served.
Held through the partnership between the BPSF National Secretariat and the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), the Davao City leg of the BPSF is dubbed “MindaNOW: Serbisyo Para sa Mindanao.”
“Nakikita namin na very important and critical partner ang MinDA dahil sila ang makaka-guide sa amin kung saan namin ina-navigate itong [BPSF] as far as Mindanao is concerned,” said Sofonias Gabonada Jr., BPSF National Secretariat leader and House deputy secretary general in a joint press briefing with MinDA Secretary Leo Magno Wednesday afternoon, Sept. 4
(We see MinDA as a very important and critical partner because they're the ones who can guide us in navigating the
“We would like to extend our thanks to the City Government of Davao for providing us with security and traffic management assistance,” added Gabonada. He noted that a representative of the city government was present in every meeting of BPSF and MinDA regarding the service caravan rollout.
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As a key component of the service caravan, the Department of Social Welfare and Development will be conducting continuous payouts under the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) for beneficiaries across the city of Davao in the coming weeks.
Moreover, the Department of Labor and Employment will also be conducting continuous payouts to beneficiaries under the Tulong Pang-hanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program.
Likewise, in the next two days, almost half a million kilos of rice will be distributed to various beneficiaries across all events. Romualdez earned the moniker "Mr. Rice" from these distributions of the staple rain.
The first BPSF in the Davao region was staged in Monkayo, Davao de Oro during the nationwide launch of the program last September 2023. It was followed by the one in Tagum City, Davao del Norte last June 2024.