REMAI ALEJADO
ZAMBOSUR PPB
Better late than never. Governor Aurora Cerilles takes her turn in offering financial aid to the victims of the April 26 fire in Agora.
All 753 of them also received food assistance last June 24 at the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office.
“Gamay lamang kini kung itandi sa nawala ninyo apan ang labing mahinungdanon nga bisan luyo sa kanihit sa atong panalapi sa lalawigan, nanlimbasog ako nga makahatag ug hinabang aron akong mapaabot kaninyo ang pagpakabana ug pagtagad sa atong Pangagamhanan sa Probinsiya,” Cerilles told the victims.
“Gibati ko ang kapait nga inyong gibati, ilabi na niining panahon nga kita nag-atubang sa ekonomikanhong mga suliran,” Cerilles added, showing her empathy.
Different market vendors groups and cooperatives doing their businesses inside the Agora were present during the aid distribution.
All in all, Cerilles handed out P600,000 to the fire victims, which included the NFA rice.
The assistance given varied, depending on the size and the number of stalls an owner lost in the fire. One recipient was able to receive P3,500 and 105 kilos of NFA rice since he lost seven stalls.
Melanie Aragon, chief of Emergency Assistance Program of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office said majority of the vendors only rented their place but were not stall owners.
A month ago, clashes occurred between the actual owners and the renters as to who should receive assistance but Mayor Samuel Co already settled the issue at hand and decided in favor of the actual occupant at the time of the fire.