By Jenifer Catan-Tilos
DUMAGUETE CITY, Negros Oriental (PIA) — Raymunda Visagas, a retired teacher who became the vice-president of a Parent-Teacher Association (PTA), thanked the government after she received her financial assistance under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program of the Department of Social Welfare & Development (DSWD).
Visagas is one of around 2,000 PTA member-beneficiaries who each received P3,000 from the 2nd District in the province.
Visagas, 61, a PWD from Barangay Pantao, Mabinay said she was delighted for the cash aid as this will also help augment her working student’s allowance.
“Unexpected kini na ayuda and this is my first time to receive it. I feel happy kay makatabang sab namo kay voluntary ra baya among pagka officer sa PTA. Nalipay mi na gitagaan mi aning privilege sa government,” said Raymunda.
(This assistance is unexpected for me as this is my first time to receive it. I feel happy because this will help us financially, as being a PTA officer is just voluntary. We’re glad to be given this privilege from the government.)
She added that there are parents who refused to be PTA officers due to other obligations.
“Thankful mi na gitagaan mig pagtagad ni President Marcos kaming mga PTA officers, sa nangaging panahon wala mi kadawat ingon niani,” added Visagas.
(We are thankful to President Marcos for giving us attention. In the past, we have not received anything like this.)
For Gomer Areglado, 57, PTA president of Dr. Ernesto Uy National High School in Barangay Lumbangan, Mabinay, the AICS program is beneficial for the parents to help them in their children’s additional expenses.
“I have four kids in school. Sa kalisud karon dakong na kining ikatabang,” said Areglado.
(With life being hard lately, this assistance will help us a lot.)
Sen. Imee Marcos led the AICS payout together with Gov. Manuel L. Sagarbarria and 2nd District Rep. Manuel T. Sagarbarria.
The senator cited the need to provide financial assistance to different sectors as social protection especially that the province has earlier declared a state of calamity due to the El Niño Phenomenon.
Alternate social welfare and development team leader John Michael Rollorata of DSWD said that aside from the PTA members, 1,891 students also received educational assistance under AICS worth P5,000 each.
In the same cash distribution, around 600 beneficiaries also received P2,000 financial assistance during the visit of Senator Francis Tolentino in Dumaguete City.
The beneficiaries are solo parents, students, senior citizens and indigent residents.
Tolentino and Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Antonio B. Remollo led the distribution of the cash aid for the recipients from 15 barangays as verified by DSWD.
Persons with disabilities also received wheelchairs from Tolentino.
PIA- NegOr Infocen Blog 