PILI, CAMARINES SUR (PIA) – His Excellency President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos graced the inauguration of four (4) of his administration’s flagship programs and had a short visit with the 9th Infantry “Spear” Battalion troopers, all in one day during his first presidential visit in this province, March 16, Thursday. 

President Marcos was in the province to inaugurate and lead the launching of Kadiwa ng Pangulo at Palestina covered court in Pili, Camarines Sur, and the ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony of Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing projects (4PH) here.

Speaking before the direct beneficiaries of the Kadiwa project- the farmers, fisherfolks, MSMEs, and cooperative members, among others, the President emphasized the need for more Kadiwa centers to fulfill the need for increased production and assist farmers to have a steady market for their produce.  

“Bukod sa pagtayo ng palengke, which is ‘yun ang Kadiwa palengke naman talaga ito, magtatayo ng palengke para maipagbili ng mas mababang presyo ang ating mga agricultural products, ang ating mga finished products. Lahat po ‘yan ay binibigyan din natin ng pagkakataon-  ‘yung mga maliliit na negosyo sa bawat lugar kung saan ‘yung Kadiwa para mayroon silang lugar para ipagbili ang kanilang mga produkto,” the President said in his speech.

President Marcos said that the country is slowly but surely achieving its goal of lowering the prices of rice, onions, vegetables, and other commodities, after prices surged high, owing to a shortage of production. He claimed that his administration is constantly looking for ways to reduce poverty in the country.

The President also emphasized the significance of the Kadiwa outlets in fostering MSMEs and aiding in the recovery and development of the economy following the COVID pandemic.

10,000 Housing units for Camarinenses under PBBM’s 4H project

President Marcos also officially launched the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) project at the 6-hectare province-owned site in Barangay Concepcion Pequeña, Naga City. This will provide more than 10,000 housing units to homeless Camarinenses.

“Isa po ito sa mga proyekto ng aking administrasyon na naka-angkla sa ating layunin na mabigyan ng komportable, maayos, at disenteng buhay ang lahat ng ating kababayan.  Ang pagkakaroon ng sariling bahay ay pangarap ng lahat ng Pilipino na nais magkaroon ng isang lugar kung saan sila makakapagsimula ng bagong kabanata ng kanilang buhay,” the President said.

Speaking before a 3,000 crowd, President Marcos also highlighted that a decent home for every family is not a privilege but a right of everyone.

“We have to put up human settlements. Kaya’t kung nakita niyo po ang plano na ginagawa natin para dito sa [4PH] Project ay laging hindi lamang pabahay, kung hindi lahat na nung mga pasilidad na ating nabanggit, tungkol nga, kagaya nga, ay kailangan hindi masyadong malayo ang pupuntahan,” the chief of state said.

Camarines Sur Governor Luigi Villafierte thanked the president for choosing Camarines Sur as one of the first sites in Bicol for his human settlement project. He said that he was inspired by the President’s call for unity.

“The mere fact that you are here in Camarines Sur is a message to everyone that we should all unite for peace and prosperity. One of the many aspirations of our President is to build 6 million homes nationwide that will house 30 million Filipino people. I am truly honored and indebted that the province of CamSur is among its first beneficiaries. I am proud to announce that under this project, 10,000 housing units will be built for the people of Camarines Sur,” Gov.Villafuerte said.

Being prone to natural hazards like typhoons and flooding, a secure and a safe home is an answered prayer to all the families of Camarines Sur who are perennially battered by strong winds and water surges, the young governor added.

The project materialized after Camarines Sur Governor Luigi Villafuerte signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in December 2022 with DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar.

The president is being assisted by Mayor Nelson Legacion and Vice Mayor Cecilia "Nene" de Asis, Department of Human Settlement and Urban Development (DHSUD) Sec. Jose Rizalina Acuzar, and Camarines Sur Governor Luigi Villafuerte. (KBernadas,JMadrid-PIA5/Camarines Sur)

Naga City’s ‘The Legacy’ residences

The Balatas New Development Area (BNDA) will soon be home to 1,200 Nagueños after President Marcos lead another ceremonial groundbreaking of the city’s housing unit dubbed “Legacy Residences" Development Project in Naga City.

Seven (7) medium or high-rise condominiums with 20 units will soon rise on the said site. 

“Ang proyektong ito ay bahagi ng tuloy-tuloy at walang tigil na pagsisikap ng inyong pamahalaan upang matupad ang mga adhikain natin sa ilalim ng 4PH Program ng ating bansa. Sa katunayan, nalagdaan na ng Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development ang walumpu’t tatlong (83) Memoranda of Understanding at apat (4) na Memoranda of Agreement sa pagitan ng mga lokal na pamahalaan sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa,” the President stated.

City Mayor Nelson Legacion expressed his gratitude to the president for gracing the occasion and for including the Nagueños as one of the beneficiaries of the government’s affordable houses.

“Our praises to the swift launch and implementation of this project, with barely a number of months since the assumption to office of the new administration. This is one of the most laudable projects yet of our national government as it aims to resolve one of the biggest needs of our country- our housing problem which records the huge number of backlogs,” Legacion stated.  

The Naga City chief executive was also elated with the President’s statement: “Masasabi ko na very progressive dito sa Naga, [kaya] siguro na imbes na ako’y maghikayat sa local leadership ng Naga, ay ipakita natin sa ibang mga LGUs kunf papano ang isang paraan [dito sa Naga] para maging matagumpay at maayos ang ating proyekto.”

“Tayo po ay nagagalak, dahil napansin po nya, base na din sa kanyang speech, sa kanyang mensahe na halos kumpleto na kung tutuusin. Ang kailangan nalang talaga at yong pabahay na isang flagship program ng Marcos administration,” Legacion added.

Both projects are part of the two housing programs in the Bicol Region under the Marcos Administration’s flagship 4PH Program which is geared towards building one million housing units annually for the next six years under his administration for a total of six million during his incumbency.

Following a brief lunch, the President proceeded to the CWC, Kafuerte Sports Complex in Pili, Camarines Sur, to supervise the distribution of different government aid to local inhabitants.

Thru the Department of Agriculture Regional Office in Bicol, President Marcos also led the commencement of the distribution of P584.8 M worth of Fertilizer Discount vouchers to 121,658 rice farmers of Bicol.

Two thousand of these farmers tilling two hectares and below each received P5,600 worth of fertilizer subsidy during the visit of the President.

The President's visit in Camarines Sur came to an official close after his “Talk to the Troops” engagement at the 9th Infantry “SPEAR” Division at Camp Elias Angeles in Pili, Camarines Sur. He was received by the SPEAR troopers through a Military Arrival Honors led by Major General Adonis R. Bajao, Commander of 9ID and Joint Task Force Bicolandia (JTFB).  (PIA5/Camarines Sur)