Aid pours in for 6th district residents

CEBU, Philippines — As the province is still grappling with the COVID-19, financial and relief assistance continue to pour in Cebu’s sixth district over the weekend.

These were initiated by Senator Bong Go, Sixth District Rep. Emmarie Ouano-Dizon, Lapu-Lapu City lone district Rep. Paz Radaza, Ako Bisaya Partylist Rep. Sonny Lagon, Sixth District Board Member Jonkie

Ouano, Mandaue City Councilor Anjong Icalina-Ouano, and other agencies.

The office of Go donated face masks, face shields, vitamins, packed meals, and groceries to 42 families displaced by fire that hit a residential area in Barangay Pulpogan, Consolacion town on April 12. The affected families also received cash aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

A raffle was also held during the distribution of the assistance wherein some of the beneficiaries won bicycles, shoes and computer tables from the senator.

“Minsan lang po tayo dadaan sa mundong ito, kung ano pong kabutihan o tulong ang pwede nating gawin sa ating kapwa tao gawin na po natin ngayon dahil hindi na po tayo babalik sa mundong ito,” said Go in his video message to the beneficiaries.

Lagon, for his part, committed to pay the electricity bills of almost 500 households on Hilutungan Island in the town of Cordova.

James Gallarde, Lagon’s senior consultant for programs and projects, said the congressman has committed to pay the P200 per month electricity bill of the 475 families for three months starting this month.

Lagon, in his Facebook post, said these families lost their tourism livelihood due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gallarde added that Lagon has also helped in the cementing of a barangay road in Cabangahan, Consolacion by donating 200 sacks of cement.

Emmarie together with Jonkie and Anjong also gave P5,000 financial and relief assistance to 113 families who were fire victims in Barangay Tabok, Mandaue City last April 19.

The affected families also received towels, face masks, Jollibee meals and t-shirts from the Mandaue Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Senator Bong Revilla.

Emmarie also inspected one of her ongoing infrastructure projects in Mandaue City. These are the Labogon Elementary School’s Multi- Purpose Building (covered Court) worth P4.8 million and barangay Guizo’s multi-purpose building worth P2.9 million.

Radaza, on the other hand, continues giving “cash for work assistance” for the beneficiaries in Barangay San Vicente in Olango Island.

“Kini nga assistance dako kini og tabang alang sa atong mga benepesyaryo nga nakadawat na gyud sa ilang sweldo pinaagi sa DOLE-TUPAD program nga ato pud gipangitaan og pundo pinaagi sa tabang ni Senator Joel Villanueva. Kaninyong tanan, kanunay kita nga naningkamot aron duna kitay mahatag nga tabang labi na karon grabe ang krisis nga giatubang matag isa kanato,” said Radaza in her Facebook post.

Under Bayanihan 2 to Recover as One Act, Department of Labor and Employment-7 implemented the TUPAD program all throughout Central Visayas giving priority to the workers in the informal sector affected by the pandemic.

Each TUPAD beneficiary is paid a minimum salary of P404 per day for 14 days.

Radaza earlier said more than 7,000 TUPAD beneficiaries will receive their salaries this year which she lobbied in Congress for the programs of DOLE-7. — KQD (FREEMAN)