CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro (PIA) -- Over ₱1.2 billion worth of programs and services were delivered to the residents of Oriental Mindoro during the launch of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) on Saturday, March 9.

BPSF, which ended on Sunday, March 10, was the country’s biggest service caravan, aimed at providing major government services to marginalized Filipinos in the country.

Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez led officials in the distribution of government aid.

“Jam packed itong serbisyo fair dito sa Oriental Mindoro at napakaraming serbisyo ng gobyerno ang nakahanda sa Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair. All thanks to the hardwork and dedication of all our participating government departments and agencies. Sana patuloy tayong makapagbigay ng mabilis na serbisyo at sa maayos na proseso upang maging maginhawa ang lahat at umuwing masaya,” said Romualdez.

[The fair here in Oriental Mindoro is jam packed and many government services are ready at the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair. All thanks to the hard work and dedication of all our participating government departments and agencies. I hope we can continue to provide fast service and a smooth process so that everyone can be comfortable and go home happy.]

The Speaker further emphasized how the BPSF is evidence of the joint efforts to improve government services in order to create a more progressive country.

“Simula noon ay ating nilibot ang Serbisyo Fair sa iba’t ibang probinsya at nakita natin na malayo ang mararating kung ang gobyerno at tao ay nagtutulungan. Patuloy tayong maglilikom at maghahatid ng tulong hanggang sa marating ang bawat sulok ng Pilipinas. Hindi tayo titigil kahit ano mang pagbabatikos. Ang Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair ay mananatiling nakatutok at maglalapit ng mga serbisyo at ayuda sa bawat Pilipino,” said Romualdez.

[Since then, we have toured the Serbisyo Fair in different provinces and we have seen that we can go far if the government and the people work together. We will continue to collect and deliver aid until we reach every corner of the Philippines. We will not stop no matter what the criticism. Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair will remain focused and bring services and aid closer to every Filipino.]

Joining them in the 13th launching event of the BPSF were 21 congressmen from various regions of the country.

Oriental Mindoro Gov. Humerlito ‘Bonz’ A. Dolor expressed his gratitude to the Marcos Administration for selecting the province as the venue for the BPSF in Mimaropa.

"Lahat ng ating hiniling ay ngayon ipagkakaloob ni Speaker Martin Romualdez at kay Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. dahil sa kanyang matibay at may direksyong pamumuno sa bansa-- ang Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair. Ngayong araw na ito ay lasapin natin ang bawat segundo na nakakasama natin ang liderato ng pambansang bahay, lasapin natin ang bawat tulong na ipinagkakaloob sa atin dahil bihira itong mangyari," Dolor said.

[Everything we asked for will now be granted by Speaker Martin Romualdez and President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. because of his strong and directional leadership in the country-- the Bagong Pilipinas Service Fair. Today let's savor every second that we have with the leadership of the national house, let's savor every help that is given to us because it rarely happens.]

Romualdez reiterated that of the ₱1.2 billion worth of programs and services in the Serbisyo Fair, a total of ₱278 million was in the form of cash assistance from all agencies with financial aid for the poor and underprivileged.

A total of 72,500 kilograms of rice were distributed to beneficiaries, including 10-kilogram rice packs to over 28,000 selected recipients from the marginalized sectors and 25-kilogram rice packs to over 2,000 beneficiaries of the government's Cash Assistance and Rice Distribution (CARD) Program.

The Serbisyo Fair also showcased government programs, including the Kadiwa ng Pangulo, which provided affordable goods from farmers and fisherfolk to small businesses; civil registration document requests processed by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA); and Lab4All, a free laboratory test, consultation, and medicine.

Event organizers also designated areas for passport applications for easy facilitation by the Department of Foreign Affairs, processing of drivers’ licenses by the Land Transportation Office, issuance of clearances by the Philippine National Police, and benefit claims and membership inquiries by the Social Security System and the Government Service Insurance System, including inquiries for tax, fee, and charge by the Bureau of Internal Revenue, and mobile licensing by the National Telecommunications Commission.

It also featured various social services for people to avail of from lead agencies, namely the Department of Social Welfare and Development, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Health, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development, the National Food Authority, the Office of Civil Defense, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the Food and Drug Administration, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, and the Philippine Coconut Authority.

The Department of Labor and Employment, the Department of Trade and Industry, the Department of Science and Technology, the Technical Skills and Development Authority, the Department of Agrarian Reform, the Department of Migrant Workers, the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration, the Department of Education, and the Commission on Higher Education also showcased their livelihood packages and educational services they had in store for their beneficiaries. Other government services included those from the Public Attorney’s Office, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, the Department of Information and Communication Technology, and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency.

The Serbisyo Fair also lined up other notable activities such as the distribution of agri-machinery and equipment from PhilMech under the RCEF-Mechanization Program amounting to ₱145 million; the handover of e-bikes to cooperatives from the Department of Agrarian Reform; and the awarding of livelihood interventions for registered fisherfolks from the BFAR.

First District Representative Arnan C. Panaligan expressed his gratitude to the house speaker. "Maraming salamat po sa ating butihing Speaker Martin Romualdez, at sa lahat ng kababayan natin from the 1st and 2nd district of Oriental Mindoro. Mapalad po tayo at dito ginanap ang ika labintatlong Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair sa ating lalawigan," Panaligan said.

[Thank you very much to our good Speaker Martin Romualdez, and to all our compatriots from the 1st and 2nd district of Oriental Mindoro. We are lucky that the thirteenth Bagong Pilipinas Service Fair was held here in our province.]

According to Panaligan, the Bagong Pilipinas is not just a logo or branding of the Marcos Administration, but also an idea that aims to bring government programs and projects closer to the people. This is the thirteenth edition of the BPSF and it is set to visit all 83 provinces in the Philippines. (GATS/PIA MIMAROPA)