APALIT, Pampanga — For Maileen Intal of Barangay San Vicente here, the financial assistance she received on Friday came just in time for one of the most anticipated celebrations in their town.
“Malaking tulong po itong natanggap namin. Makakabili ako ng gamot para sa maintenance ko, at may maihahanda na rin po kami para sa fiesta ni Apung Iru,” she said, referring to the annual fluvial festival of the town’s patron, St. Peter the Apostle, which will be held from June 27 to 29.
Intal was among the 3,904 residents of Apalit who received ₱5,625 under the Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development, implemented in coordination with the Provincial Government of Pampanga.
An additional 4,162 beneficiaries in Macabebe also received the same assistance on the same day, bringing the total number of recipients on Friday to 8,066.
Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda, who led the distribution together with Vice Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda, acknowledged the timing of the event in relation to Apung Iru’s festivities.
“Ito pong tulong-pinansyal na ito, dapat last year pa para sa mga nasalanta ng Bagyong Carina. Inabutan lang ng election ban. Ngayong tapos na po ang eleksyon, siniguro ko po talaga na matatanggap ninyo ito, at ngayon nataon pa sa fiesta ni Apung Iru,”the governor said.
Intal also recalled a time when she was hospitalized and received help from the provincial government. “Noong naospital ako ilang taon na ang nakakaraan, wala akong binayaran. Sinagot lahat nina Gov. Delta at Nanay. Kaya sobrang pasasalamat ko sa kanila ngayon.”
The ECT program is a post-disaster intervention designed to assist families affected by large-scale emergencies such as typhoons and flooding. The cash assistance allows recipients to meet their most urgent needs.
Friday’s distribution in Apalit and Macabebe followed earlier rollouts in Arayat, Candaba, Bacolor, Sasmuan, Guagua, Mexico, and Sta. Ana, raising the total number of Kapampangans served under the program to 28,751.
Governor Delta and Vice Governor Nanay also expressed their gratitude to President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr., DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian, and Department of National Defense Secretary and NDRRMC Chair Gilbert Teodoro for making the assistance possible.
Jasmine Jaso-GO/Photos: Daniel Ombina-Pampanga PIO
