A TOTAL of 7,000 qualified residents of Agusan del Norte, consisting of farmers, students and small entrepreneurs, received cash aid and various other forms of assitance Friday from programs conceived, formulated and supported by Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez and the House of Representatives upon instruction of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos Jr. to help struggling sectors of Philippine society cope with everyday challenges.
Coinciding with the Bagong Pilipinas Serbisyo Fair (BPSF) in Agusan del Norte, Speaker Romualdez led the distribution of financial assistance under the Farmers Assistance for Recovery and Modernization (FARM), Integrated Scholarships and Incentives Program (ISIP) for the Youth; and the Start-up, Investment, Business Opportunity and Livelihood (SIBOL).
A total of 2,000 FARM beneficiaries received P2,000 worth of financial assistance from the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and 5 kilograms of rice each in a simple ceremony held at the Villa Paraiso Covered Court in Brgy. Ampayon, Butuan City.
The program was attended by Speaker Romualdez, Sen. Bong Revilla, Agusan Del Norte Rep. Jose “Joboy” S. Aquino, along with over 60 other House members who also attended the Agusan del Norte BPSF.
“Una sa lahat, maraming salamat po sa lahat sa inyong pakikiisa sa layunin ng pamahalaang Marcos na mapanatiling abot-kamay ng ating mamamayan ang bigas at iba pang mga pangunahing bilihin. Malayo po ang mararating ng inyong pakikibahagi ngayon,” Speaker Romualdez, the leader of the 300-plus-strong House of Representatives, said.
“Base sa mga pag-aaral, mas bumibilis ang pagtaas ng presyo ng bilihin kapag tumataas ng presyo ng bigas. Ang paglahok ninyo sa programang FARM ay isa pang patunay na ang Pilipino nga ang pag-asa ng Bagong Pilipinas, ang adhikaing isinusulong ng ating mahal na Pangulong Bongbong Marcos Jr.,” he added.
The program also aims to address the predicament of the National Food Authority (NFA) in accomplishing its mandate to increase its buffer stock, which can be used in case of emergencies as the farmer-beneficiaries are encouraged to sell at least 100 kilos of their rice harvest to the NFA.
“Binuo natin ang programang ito para masuklian ang inyong kabayanihan, sa pamamagitan ng pagbigay ng tulong-pinansyal na maaari po ninyong magamit para maging mas masagana ang inyong ani sa mga susunod na taon,” Speaker Romualdez noted.
For the ISIP for the Youth, also an initiative of Speaker Romualdez, held at the Philippine Science High School Gymnasium, Brgy. Tiniwasan, Butuan City in collaboration with DSWD, Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to assist deserving students facing financial challenges in pursuing quality education.
ISIP for the Youth targets tertiary and vocational education students, where each of the 3,000 qualified beneficiaries from Agusan del Norte receives P2,000 in financial assistance every six months through the DSWD AICS to cover tuition and other expenses. All beneficiaries also received 5 kilograms of rice.
“Binuo po ang ISIP Program bilang tugon sa hinaing ng mga nagsusumikap na kabataan na makapagtapos ng pag-aaral sa kabila ng kakapusan. Bukas po ang programang ito sa mga estudyante ng kolehiyo, sa mga mag-aaral ng Alternative Learning System at sa inyo na kumukuha ng technical-vocational skills training,” Speaker Romualdez said.
Identified student beneficiaries will be enrolled under CHED’s Tulong Dunong Program (TDP) where students can get scholarship assistance per year amounting to a total of P15,000 and assured slots under the Government Internship Program (GIP) after graduation. Unemployed parents or guardians may also be enrolled in the DOLE-TUPAD Program.
“Kaiba po ang programang ito sa mga ibang scholarship programs, dahil hindi lang ang mag-aaral ang mabibigyan ng tulong. Alam po namin na may mahalagang papel ang magulang sa pag-aaral ng kanilang mga anak. Kaya po kasama din sila sa puwedeng mabigyan ng ayuda sa ilalim ng programa,” Speaker Romualdez said.
“Ang ating pagkaka-buklod-buklod ay tumatayong matibay na patunay sa potensyal ng pagkakaisa. Dahil sa inyo, at sa pagsusumikap ng bawat mag-aaral sa programang ito, mas mabilis nating maisasakatuparan ang adhikain ng ating mahal na Pangulong Bongbong Marcos na Bagong Pilipinas,” he said.
For the SIBOL Program, the distribution of P5,000 worth of financial assistance under DSWD AICS for 2,000 beneficiaries in Agusan del Norte was done in Barangay Imedejas Covered Court in Butuan City.
It is also an initiative of Speaker Romualdez that aims to encourage start-up businesses and serve as a dual solution for poverty alleviation and support during crises, providing individuals with sustainable opportunities that contribute to economic empowerment and resilience in challenging times.
“Bawat isa sa atin, nag-aambag para makamit ang magandang kinabukasan. Kaya nga’t binuo natin itong programang SIBOL, bilang pagkilala at pagsuporta sa angking galing ng Pilipino na magtaguyod ng kabuhayan, hindi lang para sa sarili, kundi para sa ikalalago ng ating komunidad,” Speaker Romualdez said in his message for the program’s opening.
“Ang hiling lang namin na sa inyong paglago, kayo din ay maging daan upang ang inyong mga kababayan ay mabigyan ng tulong. Kami naman po sa Kamara de Representante, sampu ng ating mga kasama sa Ehekutibo, ay hindi titigil sa pagi-isip at pagpapatupad ng mga programang tutugon sa inyong pangangailangan tungo sa inyong pag-unlad.”
Chosen beneficiaries are micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) business owners, all of whom also received 5 kilograms of rice.
“Sa aming pagbalangkas ng mga programang ito, baon namin ang ngiti ng bawat isa sa inyo – bagay na lalong magbibigay inspirasyon sa amin na lalo pang pag-ibayuhin ang pagtupad ng aming mga tungkulin,” Speaker Romualdez said.
Camp Crame or NBI: DOJ sees potential detention center for Teves
ARRESTED former Negros Oriental representative Arnolfo ‘Arnie’ Teves will most likely to be detained in Camp Crame in Quezon City or the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) detention center in Muntinlupa City, said the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Justice Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Atty. Mico Clavano disclosed the potential detention center for Teves as he stressed the importance of ensuring his safety upon his return.
While other detention facilities are also under consideration, Clavano said Camp Crame and the NBI Detention Center are currently the primary options.
“The priority is his safety, but the specific location is not yet confirmed. Options such as Camp Crame and the NBI Detention Center are being considered,” Clavano told reporters.
He also revealed that the most viable and expeditious method to repatriate Teves from Timor-Leste to the Philippines is to pursue deportation instead of extradition.
He explained that in extradition, the Philippine government will need to submit a request and engage in further government-to-government discussions with Timor-Leste to lay out the process.
It will likewise depend on the rules of court in Timor-Leste and its extradition procedures, he said.
The deportation process will be swifter, said Clavano, noting the prior cancellation of Teves’ passport. However, he said the timeline hinges on the bureaucratic procedures of Timor-Leste.
“In terms of deportation, it could proceed swiftly because he no longer holds a valid passport. However, the timing would be subject to the protocols of Timor-Leste. Just as in the Philippines, when we deport a foreign national, we dictate the timing, right? It’s similar there. So, if deportation is the chosen route, the timing will be at their discretion,” he explained.
Clavano couldn’t offer a specific timeline, though, for Teves’ return to the country.
But he said that once Teves has been returned, the pending court cases against him would be unarchived, and he would be arraigned.
Teves has been arrested in Timor-Leste for his alleged involvement in the killing of provincial governor Roel Degamo and several others.
