House: P10B in gov't aid given to 2.5M families in Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair

At least P10 billion worth of government aid was distributed to 2.5 million families under the nationwide Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair initiative, House Deputy Secretary General Sofonias Gabonada said Monday.

“In terms of the number of beneficiaries, around 2.5 million families have been able to benefit from this program. Around P10 billion worth of programs, projects and services, including cash assistance were distributed," Gabonada said during the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair Agency Summit which marked the initiative’s first anniversary.

"That’s how inclusive Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair has been. We started with a small target of one million [families] benefiting from this. But within a year, we reached 2.5 million,” he added.

Gabonada said the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair already covered 21 provinces in 17 regions so far, but there is more ground to be covered.

“We’re expecting [to hold it in] 82 provinces,” Gabonada said.

Gabonada said the program was based on inputs from experts from the ranks of public administration, the National Economic and Development Authority, economists, regional directors, among others.

Other provinces in the pipeline so far include Batangas, Cavite, and Pangasinan.

“We want to make this a weekly event,” Gabonada said.

Speaker Martin Romualdez said this shows the commitment of the Marcos administration to improve the quality of life of the people.

“This embodies our collective dedication to bringing government services directly to the people, ensuring that no one is left behind, no matter how remote or underserved their community may be,” Romualdez said in a statement.

"This is about the child who receives life-saving medical attention, the elderly who finally feel the support of a caring government, the farmer who gains access to vital resources, and the student who sees education as a door to a brighter future. These stories of transformation are the true measure of our success,” he added. —NB, GMA Integrated News