ASSISTANCE. Iloilo City Lone District Rep. Julienne Baronda offers encouragement to fire victims during her visit to the evacuation center in Iloilo City on Tuesday (June 18, 2024). Her office facilitated the release of over PHP500,000 to 88 families affected by the June 17 fire. (PNA photo by Perla G. Lena)
ILOILO CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Tuesday released PHP502,500 in cash assistance to 88 families displaced by fire in Barangays Tanza Bonifacio and Rizal Estanzuela on June 17.
Iloilo City Lone District Rep. Julienne Baronda, whose office facilitated the early release of the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS), said the cash aid is just an initial amount.
A total of 34 families whose houses were burned down received PHP10,000 each, PHP5,000 for each of the 16 families with partially damaged houses, and PHP2,500 for sharers and boarders.
Baronda said her office would also work out the release of assistance under the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) worth PHP15,000 each for vendors whose livelihoods were lost.
Solo parents, trisikad (pedicab) drivers, and security guards will also get assistance under the DSWD’s “Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program” (AKAP) for near-poor families.
Helen Dayon, 79, said she was thankful for the assistance which she will use to rebuild their house.
Dayon lost her house and belongings to the fire, but was fortunate to bring to safety her 42-year-old physically-challenged daughter.
She shared that their house in Barangay Bonifacio was also destroyed by fire in 1992.
Another recipient, 25-year-old Pearl Joy Gabayoyo, is looking forward to the PHP15,000 SLP because her sari-sari store, which she established only a month ago, was also destroyed by the fire. (PNA)
