Bontoc, Mountain Province-Fifty Persons with Disability (PWDs) received cash assistance and food packs through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on June 6, 2023, at the Bontoc Municipal Capitol Auditorium.
This was made possible with the collaborative efforts of Senator Christopher “Bong” Tesoro Go, DSWD, and the Bontoc Local Government Unit (LGU) through the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office and Municipal Disability Affairs Office.
Mayor Jerome “Chagsen” Tudlong, Jr., encouraged the PWDs to always be optimistic.
“We understand how difficult this is for you. We assure you that we are working hard to assist you in every way we can,” the mayor continued.
Vice Mayor Eusebio Kabluyen thanked Senator Go for fulfilling his commitment to allocate P100, 000 and selecting the PWDs as target beneficiaries during the Vice Mayor’s League of the Philippines seminar in Manila last year.
Kabluyen solicited the understanding of the public as he explained that the fund cannot support the hundreds of listed PWDs in Bontoc, thus there were only three PWDs chosen for each barangay. This is to ensure that all the barangays were covered in the program. The DSWD crisis scenario list included 50 PWDs.
The Vice Mayor also expressed his appreciation to Mayor Tudlong for his initiative in collaborating with various national government agencies to request assistance and support for the LGU’s projects and programs that benefit the community.
Municipal Disability Affairs Officer Maria Codeo thanked the officials as well as the government agencies and people who help and support all PWDs.
She encouraged the PWDs to not be ashamed of their condition and not to hesitate to ask for help from the government. **Shannon Anthea S. Pagaduan, Bontoc LGU
