House assistance desk facilitates P171-M aid to 3,500 beneficiaries

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives’ assistance desk was able to deliver aid worth P171.5 million to over 3,500 Filipinos who made requests in just the first 50 days, the chamber said on Wednesday.

According to reports from the House, the Suporta sa Bayan Desk (SBD) was able to approve 3,592 requests from March 18 to June 22.

During that period, the SBD received a total of 3,738 requests or an average of 72 clients per day, with benefits provided ranging from cash relief, medicine aid, support for laboratory test fees, hospital bills, medical procedures like chemotherapy, dialysis, surgery, and funeral assistance.

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Of the 3,738 requests, the House said that 3,103 came from walk-in constituents and 635 were endorsed by House members.  With 3,592 of 3,738 requests being approved, SBD said that it had a 96 percent rate in terms of referring concerns to appropriate departments.

“When we established the Suporta sa Bayan Desk, we said this House would be a House of the People — ‘Alagang Kongreso’ — and in 50 days, PHP 171 million in real help was delivered to many of our kababayan who are in need. That is what public service looks like,” House Speaker Faustino “Bojie” Dy III said in a statement.

According to Dy, the program — which he and Majority Leader Ferdinand Alexander Marcos conceptualized — allowed Filipinos to return home without empty pockets, as the SBD functioned like a one-stop facilitation center.

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“Every single one of those 3,592 approvals is a Filipino family that didn’t have to go home empty-handed, patients who can now afford their medicines, their dialysis, their operation,” Dy said.

“When someone asks for help from the government, the process should not be made difficult.  What we want is a quick, orderly, and humane service.  That is the goal of the Suporta sa Bayan Desk.” he added.

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The project, Marcos said, is proof that Congress can be a frontline partner in social services.

“A 96-percent approval rate is not just a statistic — it is a guarantee that when someone who needs help enters the doors of SBD, they leave with a fighting chance,” Marcos said.

“The achievement of SBD in its first 50 days of operation underscores the solid commitment of the House of Representatives to making government aid faster, more compassionate, and more accessible to our people,” he added.

The SBD functions as a conduit for applicants and agencies, by helping individuals in completing documentary requirements before their requests are endorsed to partner agencies like the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) and the Department of Health (DOH).

The bulk of approved requests, totaling 2,376, were processed with the DOH, while the remaining 1,216 were coursed through the DSWD.

The House clarified that the SBD “does not replace existing agency services but serves as a dedicated pre-processing and coordination unit.”

Dy said the House leadership intends to sustain and further improve the initiative to ensure more Filipinos can access government aid promptly.

“As long as there are Filipinos seeking assistance, the House will continue to find ways to serve them better. The Suporta sa Bayan Desk is proof that when government institutions work together, we can provide faster, more meaningful support to our people,” Dy noted.

The SBD is part of a three-pronged system established by the House last March, which seeks to look after its current and retired employees’ health and welfare, as well as the requests of people who seek assistance from lawmakers.

In a statement last March 18, Marcos said that the chamber launched Alagang Kongreso — a three-part initiative of the House leadership under Dy where retirees will be assisted, incumbent employees will get executive check-up packages, and a centralized desk will be set-up for people seeking help.

According to Marcos, part of the reason why the leadership launched the Alagang Kongreso initiative was to ensure that the House remains efficient with the workforce staying healthy during and after their tenure.

“We express our gratitude to Speaker Bojie Dy for initiating the three programs, a clear reflection of his concern and compassion for the plight of House personnel and retirees,” Marcos said last March.

“Alagang Kongreso is about making care visible.  If there is an easier access to check-up, there will be a more clear support system for retirees, and the masses can approach us easier for help — which means the chamber will be more humane and serve the people better,” he added.

The other two programs are called the Dakilang Yugto, for retired Secretariat personnel; and the HRep Executive Check-Up Program which allows employees to avail services with partner hospitals.

Under the programs for retired personnel, wellness sessions, learning activities, community events, assistance services and livelihood or skills-building opportunities are offered.

Retirees can receive updates and access programs through a dedicated microsite.

House members and executive committee members, meanwhile, are entitled to an executive check-up coverage of up to P75,000, while secretariat officials are covered up to P60,000.

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Secretariat employees, coterminous secretariat personnel, congressional staff, and contractual personnel are covered up to P30,000. /mr