BANGUED, Abra – Around 12,000 residents of Abra province received financial assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development-Cordillera through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).
With each beneficiary receiving P5,000, about P57 million worth of food and cash assistance was distributed to different sectors in the province during the three-day payout.
Representing DSWD Sec. Rex T. Gatchalian, Asec. for Specialized Programs under Operations Group Florentino Y. Loyola, Jr. and DSWD-Cordillera OIC-Regional Director and Asst. Regional Director for Operations Enrique H. Gascon, Jr. spearheaded the event, together with the team from the Social Welfare and Development-Abra and DSWD-Cordillera’s Crisis Intervention Unit, in coordination with the provincial government.
In Loyola presented the different programs of DSWD such as AICS, Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), and the Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services, among other services and assistance that can further help Abra communities in improving their life situations.
In consonance with this year’s Educator’s Day and the annual Abrenian Kawayan Festival, DSWD-Cordillera honored teachers and parents for their contributions to the lives of learners and the community in the payout for members of the Parents and Teachers Associations (PTA) of primary and secondary schools in Abra, solo parents, and persons with disabilities.
Rowena Monserate, one of the AICS recipients and an officer at the Manabo PTA Federation, said she is thankful for the assistance.
We are very grateful for the help that was given to us. It will be used to support the children’s school needs, and for their tuition and allowances.”
Three Sustainable Livelihood Program association beneficiaries, namely, Namnama Association, Saccaang Pamana Association, and Ducligan Namnama Association were each awarded a P300,000 check as part of the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan (Pamana) Program.
The Pamana Program under the SLP aims to support communities towards the improvement of isolated and hard to reach areas, contributing to peace and development. – Christian Robert M. Sandoval
