THE Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) in Davao City also featured a “zero billing” program for all patients of a government hospital in Davao City and distribution of a P10,000 cash aid to the city’s “poorest of the poor.”
Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, one of the major proponents of the BPSF, said two new programs have been launched in the Davao City service caravan. These programs seek to provide medical aid to those seeking health services in government hospitals and grant cash assistance to the poorest of the poor.
Speaker Romualdez visited the Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC) in Davao City to meet the hospital officials, staff and patients.
He announced that upon the instruction of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., a P50 million fund from the Department of Health’s Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients (MAIP) will be downloaded to SPMC for the zero billing of all patients seeking medical attention from Sept. 5 to Sept. 6 or during the two-day BPSF in Davao City.
“Isinama ko ang mga kongresista ng 19th Congress para makita ng buong Davao City na mahal na mahal po natin ang Davaoeños. Dahil dito, kami po sa House ay dina-download natin ang P50 million na MAIP funds para sa SPMC upang lahat ng gastusin ng mga pasyente na na-confine dito as of Sept. 5 and 6, 2024 ay wala nang babayaran. Zero billing for all patients,” the Speaker said, adding that each patient will receive 10 kilos of rice.
“At lahat po kayo ay makakatanggap ng 10 kilo ng bigas, ayan po iuuwi ninyo lahat ‘yan,” he said.
“Food vouchers will be distributed for the SPMC to all patients and staff, ngayon po ang Pasko, maaga ang Pasko sa Davao,” Speaker Romualdez said, adding that P10,000 will be given to each of the 6,000 SPMC employees from the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP).
“Ito po ang layunin ng ating mahal na presidente, President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. at ito kasama natin ang aking kaibigan na si Sec. Leo Magno ng Mindanao Development Authority at siyempre naman lahat po ng nandidito ngayon ay masaya. At iyon po talaga ang utos ng ating presidente. Mahal po namin kayong lahat. Mabuhay ang Davao City, ang mga Davaoeño at mabuhay ang sambayanang Pilipinas. Daghang salamat,” he said.
The BPSF rolled out P1.2 billion worth of government programs and cash aid to 250,000 beneficiaries.
Speaker Romualdez also visited the Pediatric Cancer Ward in SPMC, where he gave all patients toys and Jollibee kiddie meals.
He said the cash aid program for the “poorest of the poor” in Davao City was called “Tulong Para sa Dabawenyo” and was held at the University of Southeastern Philippines’ parking lot.
He said 250 beneficiaries, composed of homeless people, mendicants and indigents each received P10,000 from DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) and 20 kilos of rice.
Speaker Romualdez will also coordinate with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) to register the unregistered poorest of the poor.
These two programs, he said, validate the Marcos administration’s campaign for Bagong Pilipinas.
“Pinapalawak natin ang serbisyong hatid ng pamahalaan para sa programa ng ating Pangulo na Bagong Pilipinas, kung saan lahat ng mamamayan ay aabutin ng serbisyo publiko, walang maiiwan,” he said.
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