Naga City (PIA) – The visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on September 23 for the simultaneous launch of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair in the towns of Nabua and Iriga brings hope and joy, said Congressman Miguel Luis Villafuerte of the 5th district of Camarines Sur, as over P1.3B worth of funds for developmental programs and projects await the district, benefiting nearly 200,000 poorest of the poor.
The visit of the President became even more remarkable for the Camarinenses, according to Villafuerte, being the first President to visit the Rinconada area in 55 years, after the former President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. set foot in 1968 when Iriga became a city.
In a press briefing last weekend, the representative expressed his admiration for the care and effort that President Marcos showed to Bicolanos. The President was also declared the adopted son of Camarines Sur in March this year. He said that PBBM personally handpicked the Rinconada area for this whole-of-nation endeavor that brought hundreds of social, regulatory, health, and livelihood services and benefits from 43 government agencies and institutions.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. makes a tour at Kadiwa ng Pangulo stalls during the national launch of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair at
CSPC Nabua City on September 23, 2023. Photo courtesy of PCO
“Nakakataba ng puso ang personal appearance ng ating mahal na Pangulo sapagkat napakaraming ayuda, asistensya, programa at proyekto ang dadating sa ating lalawigan. Ako mismo bilib sa grassroot approach ng ating presidente (My heart is filled with the President’s personal appearance because this is a significant indication that more aids, assistance, programs and projects will come in our province. I, for one, am inspired by the grassroots approach of our President),” Cong. Villafuerte said.
After the official launch of the BPSF in the Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges in the municipality of Nabua, President Marcos led the rice distribution at the University of Saint Anthony in Iriga City where a total of P2.5-M rice sacks were given to around 2,000 beneficiaries on the same day.
Aside from the bounty support, the lawmaker also made his public appeal to the national government for additional funding for flood mitigation programs and infrastructure since “one of the prominent problems in the Rinconada area is that it is a catch-basin; water flow from Mt. Isaraog, Albay, and Baao mountains, and all districts of this province.”
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. personally gives 25-kilo sack of rice to beneficiaries in Iriga City alongside the national launch of Bagong
Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair on September 23, 2023. Photo courtesy of PCO
“Slowly but surely, we will find a solution; there is a process. But ang napakaganda, bukas po ang isip, ang puso, nakikinig ang Pangulo. At yun ang magandang bagay (But what is good is that the President has an open heart and open mind to listen [to these call]),” he added.
He also discussed with the President their ongoing agricultural projects in need of sustainability. Few of which are the existing rice processing facility in Tambo, Pamplona and in Casugad, Bula, which will serve as an area for rice farmers to sell their produce at a competitive price by implementing a set and fixed price of P17 per kilo.
On the other hand, Cong. Villafuerte said the President mentioned that once all 81 provinces have conducted BPSF, there will soon be regular rounds of service caravans in all areas of the country.
Atty. Shawn Capucion, representative from the Office of the Speaker, said that there are legislative measures being taken to institutionalize BPSF. He said, “There are plans of putting up Serbisyo Centers [buildings] in each province, where 30 to 40 frontline government offices bring their services which the public can easily access. Other agencies also intend to join the next BPSF.” The attorney also expressed his utmost thankfulness to the provincial government of Cam Sur, all participating agencies, the media, and all residents who joined and benefitted from this national event. (PIA5/Camarines Sur)
