President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Friday led the distribution of livelihood assistance and the delivery of government services to indigenous peoples (IPs) in Zamboanga City.
During his visit to Barangay Sinunuc, Marcos met with around 500 members of the Sama Bajau group, each of whom received P10,000 in cash and family food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations program.
In addition, 71 families from the IP group received grocery packs worth P3,000 under the agency’s Walang Gutom Program, and 100 beneficiaries were granted P15,000 each under the Sustainable Livelihood Program.
‘I’m just here to ensure that proper assistance is given to what we call the first Filipinos, our IP community, the Sama Badjao,’ Marcos said in his address in Filipino.
‘We are here because sometimes the government is just waiting for you to approach. We haven’t served all of you. We haven’t helped everyone. That’s why what we did was this: We are the ones who will go to you. The government will come to you,’ he added.
During the event, 10 fishing boats, complete with accessories, were turned over to members of the Maasin Fisherfolk Association at the Sinunuc shoreline.
In addition, the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources distributed informational materials, while the Office of the City Civil Registry provided free verification and certified copies of civil registry records for IP members.
The Department of Trade and Industry conducted program orientations and offered free business name registration, and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples issued Certificates of Confirmation and provided consultations on IP concerns.
The Department of Health also delivered services, and the Philippine Statistics Authority facilitated national ID registration.
Moreover, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority offered skills enhancement programs and free grooming services.