Additional seven families consisting of 26 individuals are set to start a new life in their home provinces in Region 12 (Soccsksargen) through the government’s Balik Probinsya Bagong Pag-Asa (BP2) Program.
On Wednesday, the beneficiaries arrived at the BP2 depot in Agham Road, Quezon City to undergo the dispatch procedure that includes the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) swab test to ensure they are negative of the virus before they are sent back to their home provinces.
After their swab test, each of the families was also given a set of medicines and vitamins.
They were also given an orientation of the BP2 program as well as on the possible assistance they will be receiving from the national government.
The latest batch of BP2 program recipients is set to return to General Santos City, Cotabato, South Cotabato, Sarangani, and Sultan Kudarat.
The beneficiaries expressed gratitude to the national government for allowing them to avail of the program after the Covid-19 pandemic made their life difficult in the city.
Mieflor Soria, 43 years old who is traveling to General Santos City with her three children aged 16, 13, and 4 years old was crying out of happiness that they will be able to finally go home.
“Maraming salamat talaga sa Balik Probinsya, tinutulungan kami para makauwi na kami ng mga anak ko sa General Santos. Excited na kami (Thank you so much to the Balik Probinsya because they are helping us go back to General Santos. We are all excited to go home),” she said.
The BP2 program aims to address Metro Manila’s congested urban areas by encouraging people, especially informal settlers to return to their home provinces and assist them in this transition with support and incentives on transportation, family, livelihood, housing, subsistence, and education, among others.
It was institutionalized by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte through Executive Order No. 114 in May 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic, creating the Balik Probinsya Council participated in by different government agencies.
Source: Philippines News Agency