Around 500 farmers from various barangays in La Trinidad, Benguet received P2,000 cash assistance each from the partnership of the Department of Social Welfare and Development and FPJ Panday Bayanihan.
The cash assistance was sourced out from the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program of the DSWD and FPJ Panday Bayanihan and made through a series of payout last Sept. 11, 18, and 25 and Oct. 2, 9, and 26.
AICS is a social amelioration program, which intends to mitigate the socio-economic impact of Covid-19. It is the first government pandemic response program participated by the FPJ Panday Bayanihan.
The office of Sen. Grace Poe reported the FPJ Panday Bayanihan has been teaming up with her office and other concerned agencies since 2013 to reach out to Filipinos in need.
The beneficiaries who were identified through the office La Trinidad Mayor Romeo Salda came from barangays Ambiong, Beckel, Alno, Tawang, Alapang, Bahong, Shilan, Cruz, Lubas, Wangal, Pico, Pugius, and Poblacion.
“Hindi po malaking halaga pero kahit paano ay makakatulong sa kanilang pangangailangan. Ang FPJ Panday Bayanihan, katuwang po ang inyong lingkod, ay direktang naghahatid ng tulong sa ating mga kababayan sa panahon ng kagipitan tulad ngayon na may pandemya,” Poe said.
Adding distress to the farmers was the flashflood that submerged hectares of vegetable gardens in La Trinidad due to Typhoon Maring.
Since the outbreak of the pandemic, the FPJ Panday Bayanihan and Poe have been helping people across the country by giving them relief goods and personal protective equipment against the Covid-19.
Inspired by the late Fernando Poe Jr.’s famous movie series “Ang Panday,” the FPJ Panday Bayanihan has started its relief operations in 2013 and the humanitarian activity continued during disasters in the past. – Ronnie Calumpita
