DAGUPAN CITY – A total of PHP10 million worth of cash aid was disbursed to 5,000 residents from this city under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) Program on Wednesday.
The beneficiaries were affected by the flood caused by Severe Tropical Storm Enteng, which hit parts of Luzon and the Visayas from Sept. 1 to 4.
Senator Imee Marcos, chair of Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare, and Rural Development, said the cash aid is the national government’s way to help residents affected by crisis.
“Nagtaasan lahat ng bilihin. Itong panahon hindi maintindihan, noong ng summer sobrang init, ngayon (naman) walang tigil ang ulan. Mahabahaba pa itong rainy season kaya sana magtulungan po tayo dahil mahirap ang buhay. (N)andito kami para tumulong kahit papano (Prices of goods have increased. We cannot understand the weather. During the summer it was too hot, but now it’s as if the rain would not stop. The rainy season is still long so let us help one another since life is hard. We are here to help you),” she told the beneficiaries during the aid distribution.
Hazel de Guzman, a beneficiary from Barangay Mamalingling, said the financial aid is a great help to her family.
“Ibibili namin ulit ng mga pangangailangan gaya ng bigas at ulam dahil noong baha walang masyadong kita at nagkasakit pa yong anak namin (We will again purchase our basic needs such as rice and viand because we didn't have enough income when we were hit by the flood, and our son event got sick),” she said.
AICS serves as a social safety net or stop-gap measure to support the recovery of individuals and families suffering from unexpected life events or crisis.
The DSWD-Ilocos said food aid tops the requests among other assistance being offered by the agency under the AICS.
From 2022 to June 10, 2024, food assistance requests under the AICs program totaled to 65,809, followed by medical aid at 43,731.
The DSWD, however, did not give any figures regarding the number of request for the educational, burial, transportation and other assistance (PNA)
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