By Pearl Gumapos
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar assured the public that there will be more national government aid for families and businesses affected by the pandemic.
“There will be more assistance coming into Siargao and other areas affected by the pandemic, as we have streamlined the request for aid needed by local government units for their constituents,” he said in a statement released last Sunday (June 13).
National government agencies have started to respond to the mandate of accelerating and harmonizing operations on the delivery of sustainable assistance to areas and communities affected by calamities and emergencies, including the pandemic, weeks after President Duterte signed Executive Order No. 137.
EO No. 137, anchoring on the Philippine Constitution, declares that it is the duty of the state to provide for an effective, integrated, and fiscally responsible aid and humanitarian support to the Filipino people in times of emergencies and disasters as a critical component of recovery and rebuilding efforts.
The Aid and Humanitarian Operations Nationwide (AHON) Convergence Program was launched in the municipalities San Benito, St.Monica, Borgus, and General Luna from June 9-10, 2021 to help families whose livelihood or source of income were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Secretary Andanar said that the economy in Siargao has been one of the communities that were badly hit by the pandemic, which is why it was chosen as the pilot area for the convergence policy.
He also said that this initiative of the government shows that the President fulfills his commitments to the Filipino people.
“Action speaks louder than words. This is one of the mottos of the Administration of President Duterte. That is why, since he sat in 2016 until now, you can see real change. We have Build, Build, Build projects here and now we have this AHON Convergence Program,” he said.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the vice chair of the AHON Committee, distributed aid through their Livelihood Assistance Grant and Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) to 526 beneficiaries from the four municipalities mentioned earlier.
The beneficiaries can receive up to P15,000 assistance through AICS.
LAG and AICS are the recovery and rehabilitation programs of the government to serve families during the quarantine. -rir
