The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues to implement the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-Asa program (BP2) which is open to all eligible Filipinos wanting to start anew in the provinces.
The BP2 Program was enacted through Executive Order (EO) No. 114 to provide measures that can support the decongestion of urban communities through the equitable distribution of wealth and resources, and the provision of social services in the rural areas.
Likewise, it aims to give the beneficiaries who decided to settle in their original hometown or in other resettlement areas, a wide array of opportunities, along with employment, industrialization, and improved quality of services, to start a new life.
Eligible beneficiaries of the program include those who are affected by government projects and legal demolition activities; families living on the street or in danger zones; victims of human-induced or natural disasters, including health hazards such as COVID-19 pandemic; individuals who lost employment or income opportunities; and informal settlers.
Moreover, families belonging to the marginalized, disadvantaged, or vulnerable sectors who may wish to start afresh may also avail of the program. Other qualifications may include some crisis situations deemed acceptable and valid based on the assessment of the social workers during the period of application.
Providing the needed assistance
In support of this initiative, the DSWD provides transportation assistance and conducts psychosocial support activities for the returning families to assess their situation and facilitate their reintegration into their former or new communities.
Furthermore, the Department is ready to provide immediate relocation and transitional packages, including food, electricity, water, and other basic needs, to help BP2 beneficiaries settle in their hometown or in a new environment. Likewise, livelihood settlement grants will also be provided to sustain their livelihood or continue their economic activities.
The DSWD’s Kapit-Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan – Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS) will also provide other interventions, particularly community grants for eligible local government units with returning families to fund projects such as farm-to-market roads, isolation facilities, multi-purpose hall, and other highly-prioritized needs of the community.
Since 2020, more than 1,800 families were provided with BP2 packages amounting to more than Php104 million. Meanwhile, more than Php114 million funds were utilized for community grants to fund community sub-projects.
The DSWD encourages those who want to avail of the program to inquire through the DSWD email, address balikprobinsya@dswd.gov.ph, or call the hotline (02) 8952-0697 or (02) 8931-8101, local 513.
The BP2 program is the Department’s contribution to the government’s overall goal to provide hope for a better future to Filipinos through inclusive and balanced urban and rural development across the country. ###
