FLORA, Apayao(PIA) – WELCOME HOME!
Teary-eyed Aquino Daguio thanked everyone for the warm acceptance and overwhelming support as he and his family returned to Apayao on Wednesday after 33 years of staying in Manila.
A contingent from the Apayao provincial government led by Vice Governor Remy Albano and Provincial Administrator Atty. Ma. Elena Ravelo, Flora municipal government led by Mayor Rodolfo Juan, National Housing Authority Regional Manager Roderick Ibañez and District Manager Engr. Jocelyn Sunico and heads of the different national line agencies led the simple program of acceptance last October 13 at the EKB Multi-purpose Building in Flora.
Daguio said he and his family decided to return to Apayao so he applied for the Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa (BP2) Program of the government.
The Daguio family is the first BP2 program beneficiary in the Cordillera region.
As a taxi driver, Daguio described their harrowing experiences in Manila due to the COVID-19 pandemic which hit hard the transport sector.
“Naputulan kami ng kuryente, naputulan kami ng tubig, naubusan ng makakain dahil sa hindi kami makalabas dulot ng pandemyang ito,” Daquio narrated.
He shared that in 1988 at age 22, he left Apayao and bravely took his chance to find a stable job in Manila. Not only did he find work, he also found the love of his life – Liberty Cañares of Leyte. The couple is blessed with three children: Alvin Jay, 18; Liezbet, 16, and Aldrin Clay, 2.
In his return home, Daguio brought along with his family his mother-in-law, Nilda Cañares, 69.
Daguio expressed his appreciation to the BP2 Program spearheaded by NHA which assisted their eventual return to the province. He also thanked the provincial and municipal government along with all the national line agencies which pledged support.
They are now undergoing the mandatory 14-day quarantine at the Flora Senior Citizen Building, Poblacion East, Flora, and they shall be swabbed for RT-PCR on the fifth day.
After the quarantine, they will proceed and stay for good in Barangay Atok.
The BP2 program is geared towards addressing Metro Manila’s congested urban areas by encouraging people especially informal settlers to return to their home provinces and assist them in this transition with support and incentives on transportation, livelihood, housing, subsistence and education, among others.
It aims to provide hope for a better future to Filipinos through equity in resources throughout the country that will boost countryside development.
Government agencies will be all hands on deck in ensuring the continuous improvement of economies and quality of life in the provinces with the program’s long term plans of various investments in infrastructure, agriculture, business, transportation and access to a responsive healthcare system. **JDP/RMC and Jeriason Sebastian- PLGU Apayao / PIA-CAR
