2,500 women get cash aid

CEBU, Philippines —  A national legislator yesterday led the distribution of financial assistance worth P3,000 each to 2,500 women from the towns of Samboan, Ginatilan and Santander in Cebu.

The cash aid, distributed by Senator Imee Marcos, was under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).  Of the 2,500 beneficiaries, 1,500 are from Samboan, 500 from Ginatilan and 500 from Santander.

The beneficiaries are those persons with disabilities, solo parents, fisherfolk, farmers, among others.

The AICS serves as a stop-gap mechanism or social safety net to support the recovery of individuals and families from an unexpected crisis.

Under the AICS, the DSWD provides medical, burial, educational, transportation, food and other cash assistance to persons or families in crisis situations.

In Samboan, Cebu, Marcos also announced that she will be downloading P5 million worth of assistance to each local government unit present during the AICS financial distribution.

These six LGUs are Santander, Ginatilan, Samboan, Alcoy, Malabuyoc, and Alegria.

For the P5 million assistance, the LGU will need to request to the Department of Agriculture on what agriculture-related infrastructures or projects that they will be implementing in their respective area of jurisdiction.

After the LGU makes a request with the DA, Marcos will then endorse the project or program to the DA which will then release it to the requesting LGU.

These projects would include farm to market roads, purchase of tractors and other agriculture related programs. — GAN (FREEMAN)