By Annabel Consuelo Petinglay
In San Jose de Buenavista, Antique, around 29,000 locals impacted by El Niño will benefit from the PHP180 million aid from the national government. Seven municipalities received support through labor and social welfare programs on Thursday.
The 18 towns will each receive PHP5 million for emergency employment and another PHP5 million for assistance to their constituents in crisis situations.
The TUPAD aid will be channeled to 16,200 beneficiaries across the province, and the AICS to 12,288 beneficiaries.
“The government agencies are releasing TUPAD and AICS to help you,” Senator Loren Legarda said as she led the ceremonial distribution at the Lieberman Gym in Pandan town.
The initial beneficiaries of the TUPAD program are Pandan, Sebaste, Libertad, Tibiao, Barbaza, Caluya, and Culasi.
Concerned agencies intend to complete the distribution to cover the remaining 11 towns on Saturday.
Local government units submitted their proposals to the office of Legarda, who wanted them to embark on sustainable projects, such as community gardening to ensure food security.
Personnel of the Department of Social Welfare and Development also conducted the payout of PHP5,000 each to recipients of the AICS.
Data from the Office of Civil Defense showed that as of March 12, El Niño has affected 2,654.88 hectares planted with various crops in Antique, with losses amounting to more than PHP130 million. (PNA)
