CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Government assistance and services worth P118.829 million reached 2,343 beneficiaries in Pampanga during the simultaneous nationwide “Handog ng Pangulo” activity held at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center on Sept. 13, in celebration of the 69th birthday of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
“Ngayong kanyang kaarawan, ang regalo ng pangulo sa atin ay trabaho, tulong at patuloy na malasakit para sa ating mga Kapampangan,” said the president’s representative to the event, kabalen Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon, noting how Marcos Jr. has remained steadfast in implementing programs designed to improve the lives of Filipino families, particularly those belonging to vulnerable sectors, farmers, students, workers, indigenous peoples, and communities in need of government support.
Together with Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda, Vice Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda and Nanay Party-list Rep. Florabel Yatco, Dizon led the ceremonial distribution of 25-kilogram sacks of rice to 135 Aeta beneficiaries under the rice assistance program of the Marcos administration.
The Provincial Government of Pampanga also extended cash assistance of more than P5,000 each to 135 Aeta scholars, providing additional support for their educational needs.
One of the largest components of the assistance came from the Commission on Higher Education which distributed P75.6 million in Tertiary Education Subsidies through school heads, scholarship focal persons, and authorized representatives. The Department of Migrant Workers released P15.6 million under its Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFW na Nangangailangan Fund to 267 beneficiaries, providing immediate assistance to overseas Filipino workers their families.
Through the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation Program, 1,214 beneficiaries received P2,000 each, while 46 beneficiaries received more than P909,000 in Sustainable Livelihood Program grants to help them establish or strengthen sources of income.
The Department of Trade and Industry also turned over P14.8 million worth of Shared Service Facility assistance to the Pampanga Furniture Industries Foundation Inc. Three additional beneficiaries benefited from approximately P1.1 million in loan releases facilitated through DTI programs.
For the agricultural sector, the National Irrigation Administration awarded 10 Certificates of Condonation, easing the financial obligations of qualified beneficiaries.
Livelihood support was also extended to four families, while the Municipality of Guagua received assistance under the Department of Labor and Employment Integrated Livelihood Program.
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority distributed welding tool kits to 30 beneficiaries and provided approximately P3.3 million worth of scholarship vouchers, including support for Early Childhood Care and Development-related services.
Farmers also received substantial support from the Department of Agriculture, which mounted a Kadiwa initiative and distributed agricultural machinery and production inputs. These included two combine harvesters, eight pump-and-engine sets, and two cultivators, as well as hybrid white corn seeds, livestock vitamins, dewormers, dextrose powder, disinfectants, foliar fertilizers, soil ameliorants, biofertilizers, and knapsack sprayers. In addition, 60 farmers insured under the Philippine Crop Insurance Corp. received indemnity checks amounting to a combined P360,000.
The Department of Agrarian Reform strengthened land tenure security among farmers through the distribution of 16 electronic titles covering 28 hectares to 15 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries, as well as Certificates of Land Ownership Award covering four hectares to five additional ARBs.
The Department of Health provided free pneumococcal vaccination for senior citizens, X-ray and electrocardiogram services, as well as health risk assessments and other medical services benefiting around 160 patients.
“Maraming-maraming salamat po, Pangulong Bongbong, sa patuloy ninyong malasakit at suporta sa aming mga Kapampangan. Napakalaking tulong po ng mga serbisyong inyong inilapit sa ating mga kababayan mula sa edukasyon, kabuhayan, agrikultura at kalusugan hanggang sa iba’t ibang uri ng tulong para sa mga pamilyang nangangailangan. Ang inyong Handog sa Pampanga ay tunay na ramdam ng ating mga kababayan,” said Gov Pineda.
Beyond financial and livelihood assistance, beneficiaries were able to access a range of frontline government services in one venue. These included free legal consultation from the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-Pampanga and the Land Registration Authority, National ID registration through the Philippine Statistics Authority, police clearance services from the Philippine National Police, and free National Bureau of Investigation clearance for the first 200 applicants.
The simultaneous delivery of financial aid, livelihood opportunities, agricultural support, scholarships, health services, land titles, and government frontline services highlighted the Marcos administration’s whole-of-government approach in ensuring that assistance reaches Filipinos directly in their communities.
The Pampanga leg of Handog ng Pangulo also demonstrated the collaboration among national government agencies, the provincial government, local government units, and other partner institutions in expanding access to programs aimed at improving the welfare and economic opportunities of Kapampangans. Pampanga PIO/Photos: Daniel Ombina
