The country’s biggest service and convergence caravan on Saturday rolled out a total of P563 million worth of government services and financial aid to over 60,000 residents of Batangas.
Speaker Martin Romualdez, the main proponent of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair and Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, a native of Batangas, led the caravan that will last until today (Sunday).
“We cannot stress enough the need to put up service and help centers in every province in the Philippines. Government service directly to the people – this is the promise of President Marcos to our countrymen,” Romualdez said during the event attended by 143 House members, including former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, Senator Ramon Revilla Jr. and other government and local officials.
This is the second time the BPSF went to the Calabarzon region following its first caravan in November 2023 in Sta. Cruz, Laguna.
The BPSF in Batangas was the 22nd installment of the caravan, which aims to reach all 82 provinces nationwide.
During the two-day festival of services, a total of P563 million worth of programs were brought to the entire province, P265 million of which were in the form of cash assistance programs.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) conducted continuous payouts for 34,000 beneficiaries across the province of Batangas.
Recto said the caravan aims to bring “not division but integration with a purpose to help… not conflict but comfort.”
“All agencies are here, and any help, advice, assistance, and relief will be freely given regardless of your status in life. These agencies are ready to sympathize with you without discrimination. As a citizen, you have the right to enjoy such care,” Recto said.
A total of 9,000 beneficiaries from Batangas also received rice and cash aid from three programs that target the vulnerable sectors of society that do not receive financial assistance from any established social amelioration program of the government.
Romualdez spearheaded the distribution ceremonies for the Cash Assistance and Rice Distribution (CARD) program, the Integrated Scholarship and Incentives for Program (ISIP) for the Youth and the Start-Up, Investments, Business Opportunities and Livelihood (SIBOL) program.
“As President Marcos said, no one should be left behind. So, we implement these programs to reach all our countrymen who need help. It’s not just the poor, but also our near-poor who are struggling with daily expenses,” Romualdez said.
Editor’s Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline “Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair rolls out P563-M in gov’t services in Batangas”
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