Aimed at delivering “Mabilis, Maayos, Maginhawa at Masayang Serbisyong Pampubliko,” the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) was conducted in Siquijor to roll out government services for Siquijodnon families. 

Siquijodnons who attended the two-day event from Feb. 18 to 19 thanked the government for bringing several government services and programs closer to them. 

The BPSF in Siquijor brought together government agencies such as the Social Security System (SSS), Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR), Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Health, National Bureau of Investigation, among others. 

“Bravo kaayo sa Bagong Pilipinas!” said Rhenny Rose Uzurraga Gom-os, a retired Philippine National Bank officer. 

Hopping from one agency booth to another during the BPSF, Rhenny Rose said she is content with how she was accommodated by the participating agencies. 

“Dali ra ko na-facilitate -- change of RDO, updating my records, application of digital ID. Gitagaan ra ko, ug dali ra sad kaayo. After sa SSS and BIR, ni proceed ko sa passport. Basta kay accommodating kaayo ang tanan,”said Rhenny Rose, who was able to renew her passport in 10 minutes. 

(My requests were quickly facilitated--change of RDO, updating my records, application of digital ID. They responded very promptly. After the SSS and BIR, I proceeded for the renewal of passport. Everyone was very accommodating.)

Ginnie Ricamor, 50, of the town of Pangi availed of the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) services. 

“Very accommodating ang mga taga NBI. Then, if unsay kinahanglan nimo, naa ra gyud sila motabang. Mas maayo gyud nga naa sila kay less na ang time ug gasto pagprocess,” she said.

(They are available to assist you in any way that you need. I am happy they are here, I only have to pend lesser time and money to get my NBI clearance.)

Another beneficiary, Gaudiosa Gumisad, a senior citizen from the town of Siquijor, was able to avail of the free medical and dental services of the Department of Health (DOH). 

“Nianhi ko sa Bagong Pilipinas kay ganahan ko magpadental checkup, magpacleaning sa akong tango ug magpacheckup sa sa akong mata. Salamat kaayo sa inyong tabang,” she said. 

(I came to Bagong Pilipinas because I wanted to have a dental and eye checkup. Thank you so much for your help.)

Coop expansion

Alexander Lagrimas, manager of the Catulayan Community Multi-Purpose Cooperative (CCMPC), said the BPSF is very instrumental for the cooperative’s expansion. 

With 1,355 members, CCMPC was the beneficiary of P850,000 worth of Shared Service Facilities (SSF) from the Department of Trade and Industry, which was turned over during the BPSF on Feb. 18.

“Dako gyud kaayo nakong pasalamat aning SSF kay ang among negosyo sa pagprocess sa baka nga mahimong beef tapa nahimong masayon na kaayo namo tungod sa mga equipments. Pasalamat ko unang una sa atong speaker, Martin Romualdez,  nga nia karon nga mao gyud ang pagturn over niini, sa atong Congressman, sa atong Governor ug sa DTI. Nakatabang gyud kini sa paglambo sa among coop,” he said.

(I am very grateful to the Shared Service Facilities because it made the processing of our beef tapa easy. Thank you to our Speaker Martin Romualdez, who is here today to turn it over, as well as to our congressman, governor, and the DTI. The project is really beneficial to the growth of our coop.)  

The SSF package consists of meat processing equipment and facilities.

Convergence of government programs

BPSF is a convergence of government programs conducted in the provinces through service caravans.

Siquijor is the 11th province that has hosted the BPSF since its launching in August 2023. 

As of Feb. 20, the program registered a total of 54,401 beneficiaries in the province.

Gov. Jake Vincent Villa, in his message, said the national program is “historic for Siquijor.”

“Nalipay mi (We are happy) to have been chosen as the venue for the first Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair in the Visayas-Mindanao area,” said Villa. 

The governor also underscored that Speaker Martin Romualdez was the first house speaker to visit the island.   

Siquijor Rep. Zaldy Villa said the province takes pride in being the first province where all the families were able to benefit from the caravan’s services. 

Held at the Siquijor State College gymnasium, there were more than 50,000 individuals in Siquijor who availed of the over 200 programs offered by the 39 participating government agencies during the two-day event. 

“In total, more than P300 million ang maibabahagi sa mga Siquijudnon. Sa kauna-unahang pagkakataon din po, lahat ng pamilya dito sa Siquijor ang makakatanggap ng Ayuda mula sa gobyerno,” Villa said. 

(In total, more than P300 million will be extended to the Siquijodnons. For the first time, all the families in Siquijor will be receiving assistance from the government.)

Of the total, P117 million was distributed as cash assistance, of which P80 million came from the Department of Social Welfare and Development. 

BPSF lead national secretariat, deputy secretary general Sofonias Gabonada Jr., is confident the BPSF will have a positive impact on the lives of the Siquijodnons.

He said that by providing access to basic services, the BPSF aims to address the diverse needs of the local community, including the micro small and medium enterprises and small business owners.

“We are very confident that is the most meaningful and impactful Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair tungod kay tanang pamilya sa probinsiya sa Siquijor ma-cover ug makakuha ug benepisyo sa Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair,” Gabonada said. 

(We are very confident that it is the most meaningful and impactful Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair because all the families in Siquijor have been covered and availed of the benefits of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair.) (RAC/PIA7 w/ reports from BPSF team)