NABUA, CAMARINES SUR – In support of the current administration’s goal in bringing government services closer to the people, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office V actively participated during the launching of the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF), graced by the President himself, Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr. today, September 23, which will extend until tomorrow Sunday, September 24, 2023 at the Camarines Sur Polytechnic Colleges, Nabua, Camarines Sur.

Before the official start of the payout, the President led the ceremonial turnover of cash grants to the beneficiaries. Undersecretary for Operations Monina Josefina “Pinky” Romualdez representing Secretary Rex Gatchalian, together with RD Norman S. Laurio awarded the cash assistance to a beneficiary for the DSWD AICS program.

Following the ceremonial turn-over, DSWD FO V in collaboration with PLGU Camarines Sur will be giving a cash assistance of Php 2,000.00 each to 70,000 beneficiaries from the sectors of students-in-crisis and indigent fisherfolks of the various municipalities of the province of Camarines Sur from September 23-29, 2023. For today, 6,133 beneficiaries received their cash assistance during the simultaneous payout in 3 different venues namely Libmanan, Kafuerte Complex in Pili and CSPC in Nabua, Camarines Sur.

The Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair is an inter-agency project bringing government services closer to the Filipino citizens. Its objective is to ensure that necessary assistance and support are provided to those who need it the most.

According to Ms. Brizuela, a beneficiary of educational assistance, the cash grant is a huge help for her son’s schooling especially that their family just transferred here in Bicol Region from Pangasinan. “Malaking pasasalamat ko po sa DSWD dahil isa po ako sa mga napiling mabigyan ng educational assistance dito sa [Bagong Pilipinas] Serbisyo Fair. Ipambibili ko po ito ng school supplies po ng aking anak na bagong transfer lang dito sa bayan ng Baao”.

The AICS program, under the Crisis Intervention Section (CIS), is one of the frontline services of the agency in social protection, contributing to a better and improved quality of life for the citizenry.

In addition, two (2) Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) program beneficiaries and 13 individual Livelihood Assistance Grant (LAG) benificiaries of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) joined the Kadiwa ng Pangulo, showcasing their respective products.

Moreover, the Social Marketing Unit (SMU) distributed information materials to the clients and beneficiaries present during the fair. These materials aim to increase awareness and understanding of the various programs and services offered by the DSWD, ensuring that individuals and communities are well-informed and can access the assistance they need.

Aside from DSWD, some twenty (20) other National Government Agencies were also present during the fair.

Through active participation in the launching of the Bagong Pilipinas, the agency through its programs continue to pro-actively bring social protection services to the Bicolanos. ###