Senator pushes ‘Balik Probinsya’ program to uplift lives

MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Bong Go has called on qualified Filipinos to avail themselves of the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) program to help uplift their lives while contributing to the decongestion of highly urbanized cities and boosting countryside development.

Proponent of the BP2 program, Go assured the public the program will give more Filipinos a fresh start, citing accounts of some of the beneficiaries from Caramoan, Camarines Sur whose lives have reportedly taken a turn for the better after receiving grants under the program.

Among them are Leonidita Ortiz-Sabio who was able to start selling in her province and building her own house using the grants from BP2; Jing Jing Elen, who now has a successful sari-sari store and a small poultry business with 50 chickens after wisely using the livelihood grant from the program; and Ivy Mariol-Arcera, who used the benefits from BP2 to buy a motorboat for her and her husband’s fishing livelihood in the province.

“Among the objectives of the program is to ensure the provinces are an attractive environment for new businesses,” Go said. “If the provinces can provide business opportunities, our countrymen need not go to Metro Manila.”

In May 2020, President Duterte signed Executive Order 114 which institutionalizes the program as a “pillar of balanced regional development.”

The program provides adequate social services to the people, promotes employment and focuses on key areas, such as empowerment of local industries, food security and infrastructure development in rural areas.

The EO came after Go authored Senate Resolution 380 which was adopted by the Senate, urging the executive department to formulate and implement the BP2 program.

The senator had earlier welcomed the support from the private sector as various groups expressed intent to participate and contribute to the government’s push for accelerated regional development.

The senator encouraged more businesses to follow suit and invest in areas outside the country’s urban centers.

The BP2 program has so far facilitated the return of hundreds of individuals and families to their home provinces and provided them with sustainable livelihood grants and other incentives.

The program has also assisted more than 2,500 families that decided to go back to their respective provinces.

Go expressed confidence that the BP2 beneficiaries would see their lives improve through the support provided by key agencies, such as the National Housing Authority, Department of Transportation, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Department of Agriculture, Department of Trade and Industry and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.

Go has also urged the incoming administration to continue the government’s push for accelerated regional development.