COLUMBIO, Sultan Kudarat–A total of 1,000 Indigenous People (IP) received P3M cash assistance from ACT-CIS Partylist through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Thursday, March 7 here.
No less than ACT-CIS Representative and Deputy Majority leader Erwin Tulfo assisted by Provincial Governor Datu Pax Ali Mangudadatu, DSWD Regional Director Loreto Cabaya, and Columbio Municipal Mayor Tondatu “Dats” Mangudadatu spearheaded the distribution of P3,000 cash aid to each IP beneficiary at the Municipal Gym.
Rep. Tulfo, straight from a session in Congress, lauded the young governor for endorsing the Municipality of Columbio to be the next beneficiary of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) distribution.
“Pasalamat po kayo Datu Pax Ali (Mangudadatu) dahil siya po ang nag sabi na ang susunod na bibigyan ng ayuda galing sa DSWD ay ang bayan ng Columbio dahil hindi ito gaanong napapansin,” the House Deputy Majority floor leader said.
The lawmaker said this initiative from the national government is among the campaigns of President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. centred on providing services to Filipinos around the country.
“Tulad po ng sinabi ng Pangulo batin, sabay sabay tayong babangon muli, sabay sabay tayong babangon saan mang sulok sa Pilipinas,” Tulfo said.
Rep. Tulfo, however, appealed to the beneficiaries to spend the cash aid properly.
“Pakiusap lamang po namin sainyo na ang matatanggao ninyong ay gamitin ninyo para sa inyong pamilya, huwag nyo po isusugal, inom o anumang bisyo, gamitin po ninyo ito para sa pagkain at pangagailangan ng inyong mga anak,” he said, adding that: “Asah po ninyo na hindi po titigil ang pamahalaan sa pag bigay ng tulong upang kahit papaano maibsan po ninyo ang kahirapan.”
Governor Mangudadatu expressed his gratitude to Rep. Tulfo for consistently backing the province of Sultan Kudarat. “Hindi lang po ito ang unang pagkakataon na pumunta ang isang Erwin Tulfo dito sa probinsya, dahil nung siya pa ang secretary ng DSWD, dali dali syang pumunta upang iabot ang tulong sa mga apektado nang Bagyong Paeng,” the Governor said.
The Governor also lauded the persisting peace and unity between the Indigenous People, Christians and Muslims in the Municipality which his grandfather former Governor Datu Pax Mangudadatu nurtured during his reign.
Mayor Mangudadatu, meanwhile, said this is the first time that a national office has poured in a huge amount of assistance to the Municipality of Columbio while thanking Rep, Tulfo, the Governor and DSWD for this initiative.
Apart from cash assistance, the IP beneficiaries also received food packs from DSWD and raffle items including smart TV and electric fans.
