SAMAL, Bataan — Beneficiaries of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program here numbering 1,000 received P3,000 each amid rains caused by bad weather on Sunday, July 16.
Senator Imee Marcos was scheduled to lead the distribution at the covered court but inclement weather prevented her from coming. In her stead, Department of Agriculture spokesperson and assistant secretary for consumer affairs Kristine Evangelista presided over the cash payout with Samal officials headed by Mayor Alex Acuzar and representatives of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.
“Kami po sa buong Samal ay nagpapasalamat sa tulong na ibinibigay ng mahal na Senador Imee Marcos at napakalaking tulong po nito sa aming mga mamamayan lalong-lalo na sa ganitong panahon ng kalamidad,” Acuzar said, even as he reminded the beneficiaries that the cash assistance is not for the purchase of liquor and also not for gambling.
“Iyan ay tulong ng ating pamahalaan para nang sa ganoon ay matugunan ang inyong mga pangangailangan. Gamitin niyo iyan pambili ng pagkain, pandagdag sa negosyo o kahit ano pang mga bagay na makakatulong sa inyo,” Acuzar advised his constituents.
Evangelista said that Senator Marcos has been helping the needy but was only barred by the lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. “Pero ngayon kapag maganda ang panahon, siya po ay pumupunta sa kasuluksulukang bahagi ng Pilipinas at ngayon po ang ating ipamimigay ka-tandem ang DSWD ay P3,000 bawat isa sa 1,000 beneficiaries.”
She thanked DSWD for working even on a Sunday. “Yan po ay isa sa mga kinakareer ng ating Senator Marcos. Sabi nga po niya lahat ng programa ng ating pamahalaan ay dapat naipaparating sa lahat dahil ito rin ang ginawa ng dating Pangulong Ferdinand Marcos Sr.na itinutuloy niya.”
