TACLOBAN CITY – A total of PHP716 million worth of programs and services were brought to Samar during the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) on November 22 and 23 in Calbayog City, wherein PHP400 million were given in the form of cash assistance for the 25th installment of BPSF.
The said initiative led by President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong, Marcos, Jr. and House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez aims to deliver essential government services directly to communities across all 82 provinces nationwide. Governor Sharee Ann Tan, 1st District Representative Stephen James, and 2nd District Representative Reynolds Michael Tan in partnership with the Calbayog City Government hosted the fourth serbisyo caravan held in Eastern Visayas.
Rep. Stephen James expressed their gratitude to Speaker Romualdez for bringing BPSF to Samar and showing care for the province. He added that even before Romualdez became the speaker, he and his wife, Tingog Partylist Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, helped the province by sponsoring the creation of the Samar Island Hospital.
City Mayor Raymund Uy disclosed that the city government allotted a PHP5-million counterpart for the said fair; and at least 61 members of the House of Representatives also confirmed attendance with 62 participating national government agencies.
Over 255 services were offered for more than 60,000 expected beneficiaries during the festival of services in BPSF Samar.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development and Department of Labor and Employment in Region 8 will be conducting continuous payouts across the Province of Samar in the next few days, which is expected to reach over a total of 20,000 individuals amounting to PHP300 million.
Other regionwide activities included various scholarship programs of the Commission on Higher Education and Technical Education Skills Development Authority, including livelihood assistance for various sectors of pre-identified eligible beneficiaries. (By Marie Tonette Marticio / EV Mail November 18-24, 2024 issue)
