As they leave their struggles in Metro Manila behind, “Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2)” Program beneficiaries are looking forward to making the most out of the incentives they receive from the government.
In several Facebook posts, the beneficiaries’ hopes are mostly for their children.
They want them to finish their studies, attain their dreams, and experience comfortable lives.
One of the beneficiaries, Jessa Reyes, also sees her six children getting better jobs.
“Pangarap ko po sa anim kong anak makapang tapos sila sa pag-aaral nila at maka pang trabaho sila nag maayos para hindi matulad sila samin na hindi nakapagtapos. Sana mapatapos namin sa pag aaral ang amin anim na mga anak at sana po gabayan kami ng mahal na Panginoon (My dream for my six children is that they finish their studies so they could land a good job unlike us who did not graduate. I hope we will be able to sustain their studies with the guidance of God),” Reyes said.
Another beneficiary, Anor Bito, said all parents want to see their children succeed.
“Lahat naman siguro ng mga magulang pangarap ang magkaroon ng magandang kinabukasan ang kaniyang mga anak. Ang sa akin lang, sana makapagtapos at magkaroon sila ng magandang trabaho para din sa kanilang magiging mga anak pagdating ng araw (I believe all parents dreams of a better future for their children. For me, I want them to finish their studies and have a good job for their future family and children),” Bito posted.
The BP2 program was institutionalized through Executive Order No. 114, signed by President Rodrigo Duterte on May 6, 2020.
The program aims to address Metro Manila’s congested areas by encouraging people, especially informal settlers, to return to their home provinces and start a new life with the help of the government.
The beneficiaries are guided through their transition from Metro Manila to their provinces through financial aid and facilitation of transportation, family, livelihood, housing, subsistence, and education assistance.
Most of the BP2 beneficiaries are families, some of them with multiple children in the grade school level.
Arcilie Madrazo and her family will return to Bukidnon on May 31.
“Pangarap ko pong makapagtapos sila ng pag aaral. Malaki po ang aming tiwala sa Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag- asa program (I want them to finish their studies. We trust the BP2 program),” Madrazo said.
Jojo Oarubas said BP2 will make sure their children won’t experience the hardships they went through in Manila.
“They can have a better life even in the province. I wish them a better and peaceful life,” he said in Filipino in an interview.
Rachel Libres, like all beneficiaries, hopes the program will continue beyond President Duterte’s term.
“Sisikapin nmin palaguin ang binigay ng Balik Probinsya na pang-negosyo namin para mapa-aral namin mga anak namin at makapag-savings para sa magandang kinabukasan ng mga anak namin. Maraming salamat sa Balik Probinsya. God bless po sa inyo at sana po marami pa kayo matulungan (We will do our best to make something out of the livelihood assistance given to us by BP2 so we can send our children to school and save for their future. Thank you, BP2. God bless you and I hope you will be able to help more people),” Libres said. (PNA)
