THE OFFICE of Senator Imee Marcos spearheaded the distribution of P16 million in cash aid to 5,000 beneficiaries from North Cotabato on March 24 at Carmen Gymnasium.
The cash aid was under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). Marcos is the Senate’s finance sub-committee head in charge of DSWD’s budget.
DSWD XII regional director Loreto Vargas Cambaya, Cotabato Governor Emmylou Mendoza, and Cotabato’s third district congresswoman Maria Alana Santos also graced the cash aid distribution.
About 3,000 beneficiaries consisting of Moro women, senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, and other marginalized sectors from Carmen and Kabacan received P2,000 cash aid utilized for their everyday needs.
In the same way, the 2,000 agricultural students from the University of Southern Mindanao were also given a total of P5,000 in financial assistance.
In an interview, Marcos stressed the importance of this assistance for the livelihood of individuals, such as handicrafts, processing of agricultural products, and additional school materials and gadgets for students.
“Schools were closed for two years due to the pandemic and the students are catching up. The tuition is free (for public schools) except for transportation, allowance in going to school, and gadgets needed in school,” Marcos added.
DSWD XII regional director Cambaya added that counterparts from the Cotabato province have ten kilograms of rice per family.
Governor Mendoza also noted that the financial assistance will help in time for the celebration of Ramadan and the Holy Week season among the residents in North Cotabato.
Photo by Bing Gonzales
