CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — A total of 802 tourism workers from Pampanga and Tarlac received P5,400 each under the national government’s Emergency Cash Transfer program as assistance for the effects of the widespread flooding brought about by successive typhoons and intensified southwest monsoon rains in previous months.
Of the total beneficiaries, 795 were from Pampanga, while seven were from Tarlac. The distribution, held on Oct. 27 at the Kingsborough International Convention Cente here, provided a combined P4.33 million in financial assistance to tourism workers whose livelihoods were disrupted by the recent calamities.
The distribution was jointly facilitated by the Department of Tourism and the Department of Social Welfare and Development, in coordination with the Alliance of Concerned Tourism Operators of Pampanga, provincial social welfare and development office and the provincial disaster risk reduction and management office.
The initiative was also supported by Gov. Lilia “Nanay” Pineda and Vice Gov. Dennis “Delta” Pineda, reflecting the provincial government’s continuing commitment to providing assistance to disaster-affected workers and supporting the recovery of the local tourism industry.
DOT Region III director Richard Deanos expressed gratitude for the assistance extended to affected tourism workers, expressing hope that the financial support would help alleviate their immediate needs as they work toward recovery. “This assistance is intended for our tourism workers, and we hope that even this modest amount will help ease their financial burden.”
Meanwhile, the DOT is intensifying its information dissemination efforts to promote water conservation and disaster preparedness amid concerns over a potentially strong El Niño event that could persist through the first half of 2027. The agency emphasized the importance of proactive preparedness measures and responsible water management to strengthen the resilience of tourism stakeholders and local communities against extreme weather conditions.
The ECT program, implemented by the DSWD, forms part of the national government’s continuing efforts to provide immediate financial relief to individuals and workers affected by natural disasters. Pampanga PIO
