With an initiative to reach out to individuals in need of financial support, the House of Representatives has distributed millions of pesos in cash assistance to thousands of Filipinos through its newly established support desk.

Initiated in March of this year, the House's "Suporta sa Bayan Desk" (SBD) has released over P171 million to 3,592 clients whose requests were approved out of more than 3,700 people who approached the desk Situated near the North Gate entrance of the Batasan Pambansa Complex in Quezon City, the desk is reported to cater to at least 72 individuals on a day-to-day basis.

For House Speaker Faustino "Bojie" Dy, the achievements of the program were not felt merely in the numbers of people that it assisted; rather, it was through the specific type of life-changing assistance it was able to provide.

"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.

ẠạWhen people come to the government asking for help, they should not be made to struggle. What we want is quick, more organized, and a more humanized service.

That is the goal of the Suporta sa Bayan Desk," he added.

The lawmaker from Isabela explained that the initiative of the House in establishing the help desk was based on its goal to turn the lower house into the true "House of the People," ensuring that all sectors actually feel what public service is supposed to be.

Fellow House Leader and Ilocos Norte Ist District Rep. Ferdinand Alexander "Sandro" Marcos remarked that the success rate of the program exceeded even their own expectations.

Marcos stated that such a development proved that Congress could also serve as a direct platform where people can seek vital social services in times of need.

"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," the solon said.

Aside from providing its own financial assistance, SBD is also active in helping individuals coordinate with key government agencies, such as the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Health (DoH), through the endorsement of requests.

As a matter of fact, according to the program's data, around 66 percent - or approximately 2,376 - of the requests approved under SBD were catered to by the DoH. As for the other requests, the cases were handled under the DSWD.

Throughout the process, the desk has offered crucial assistance for medical bills, cash relief, therapy and funeral costs.

It was noted by the House that SBD was not necessarily meant to serve as a replacement for existing agencies; rather, it acts as an efficient avenue for individuals to get on the right track for support through pre-processing and coordination measures.

Dy mentioned that the program intends to remain open for any and all Filipinos who need assistance as a permanent measure to expedite and democratize government help.

"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 meaningtul support to our people," the House Speaker said.

The desk is open from Monday to Thursday for all clients from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., serving Filipinos on a first-come, first-served basis.