SAN JOSE, Occidental Mindoro (PIA) -- Senator Mark Villar led the recently conducted Serbisyo Fair held in the San Jose Municipal Town Plaza, benefiting more than 500 individuals.

The serbisyo fair is usually a one-day event and is one of the government’s initiatives to bring various social services closer to the public, with different participating government offices and agencies together in one place similar to a one-stop shop. 

The activity is part of the celebration of the 114th founding anniversary of the municipality of San Jose on May 1.

Senator Mark Villar expressed his delight to be part of the municipality's fiesta celebration and extend services to the public.

"May mga caravan tayo, kasama po lahat po kami[ng mga opisyal ng pamahalaan], teamwork po kami rito sa San Jose at sa Mindoro para madeliver itong mga serbisyo. Ang mensahe ko ngayong umaga, gusto ko lang iparating sa inyong lahat na walang tigil po ang mga proyekto natin," Villar said.

(We have caravans, all of us in the government work together to deliver services here in San Jose and Mindoro. My message this morning is that I want to inform everyone that our projects will continue.)

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) assisted individuals in need of financial support through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) Program. 

The AICS Program is one of the DSWD's flagship programs providing aid to the marginalized with emergency needs for transportation, medical, burial, education, or food.

A total of 393 beneficiaries of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) from San Jose received their personal protective equipment during the serbisyo fair as part of their orientation for the Tulong Pangkabuhayan para sa Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) Program.

Under the said program, beneficiaries will perform disaster-mitigation activities such as declogging canals and cleaning in their respective barangays for a minimum of 10 days and will receive a minimum wage rate of P395 a day.

Additionally, 44 scholars received P25,000 each from the Commission on Higher Education Student Monetary Assistance for Recovery and Transition (CHED SMART) Grant.

According to CHED Memorandum Order 08, series of 2023, the scholarship grant, under the National Employment Recovery Strategy, aims to help students graduate through financial assistance, particularly those whose families' livelihoods were affected by the pandemic.

Arla Manzano, a second year Information Technology (IT) student, shared that the grant will help her become more equipped for class.

"Syempre po, malaki[ng tulong ito] kasi as an IT student, wala po kasi akong laptop. Kaya gagamitin ko po ito pambili ng laptop...mahirap po kasi talaga, nakikihiram lang po ako," she explained.

(Of course, this is a huge help for me as an IT student who does not have a personal laptop. I will use this to buy one because it is difficult to rely on borrowing equipment.)

The local government unit (LGU) provided hot rice porridge or lugar to the participants, and ambulance and medical teams were on standby to provide emergency response when needed.

Present during the activity were the municipal LGU officials headed by Mayor Rey C. Ladaga, provincial board members Coco Mendiola and Ainah Baticados, and Occidental Mindoro Representative Leodi Tarriela. (DSG/PIA MIMAROPA - Occidental Mindoro)