Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez today thanked President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. for acknowledging the unity of the members of the House of Representatives manifested in their show of force in support of the Presidential Assistance to Farmers, Fisherfolks, and Families (PAFF) payout in Cagayan De Oro City.
Speaker Romualdez, along with over 50 members of the House, joined President Marcos in the distribution of cash assistance to 10,000 beneficiaries of the PAFF program from Cagayan De Oro City (CDO) and the provinces of Misamis Oriental, Camiguin, and Bukidnon at the Pimentel Convention Center in CDO.
In his message during the event, President Marcos noted the large number of lawmakers with Speaker Romualdez, saying half in jest that it was the first time he had seen such a large contingent from the House of Representatives, probably even more than those attending the sessions during his time as a congressman.
“Ngayon lang ako nakakita ng ganito. Kahit nung congressman ako nung pumapasok ako hindi ganito karami ang congressman dun sa plenary hall,” the President said.
“On behalf of the House of Representatives, I would like to express our gratitude to President Marcos, Jr. for highlighting our unity and commitment in support of his initiatives such as the PAFF and the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair, among others, to bring government services closer to our people,” Speaker Romualdez said.
Speaker Romualdez said the positive impact of the joint effort of the Marcos administration and the lawmakers underscores their dedication to providing immediate relief and long-term solutions to our countrymen in need, particularly those in the agricultural sector who are vital to our nation’s food security.
“As Speaker of the House of Representatives, I vow to continue my unwavering support for the administration of President Marcos, Jr. and his pro-people programs. Together, we will strive to implement policies and projects that uplift the lives of every Filipino, ensuring that no one is left behind as we progress towards a more resilient and prosperous nation,” he added.
Before joining President Marcos in the PAFF payout, Speaker led the opening Thursday of the two-day BPSF, which rolled out a total of P286 million in government programs as well as cash, scholarship, and livelihood assistance to around 30,000 beneficiaries in Cagayan de Oro City for the two-day event held from May 16 to 17.
The Cagayan de Oro BPSF, the 17th installment of the Service Caravan that aims to bring government services and financial aid programs closer to the people in all 82 provinces in the country, was launched at the Dr. Ricardo E. Rotoras (DRER) Memorial Hall of the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philipines (USTP).
So far, CDO is the sixth Mindanao area to be serviced by the BPSF, next to Zamboanga City, Bukidnon, Agusan del Norte, Sultan Kudarat and Davao de Oro. In the following weeks, BPSF will go to Tawi-Tawi and Davao del Norte, bringing the total number of Mindanao areas served by the program to eight.
