Legazpi city: The Albay provincial government has distributed PHP2.1 million in cash assistance to 1,153 farmers, fisherfolk, and public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers in Legazpi City. The aid was provided under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.
According to Philippines News Agency, the payout included 409 PUJ drivers, each receiving PHP1,500, while 529 farmers and 215 fisherfolk were granted PHP2,000 each. Ma. Vivien Cea, head of the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PWSDO), noted that this distribution marked the final day of the AICS assistance rollout, which commenced on August 4. The initiative aims to support ordinary Albayanos amid rising prices of basic commodities and other financial challenges.
Cea emphasized the importance of this assistance for PUJ drivers, fishermen, and farmers, expressing hope that the aid would help Albay residents meet their essential needs. The list of PUJ driver beneficiaries was provided by local government units, while the names of farmers and fisherfolk were sourced from the city's agriculture offices.
Beneficiaries like PUJ drivers Garry Abrigo and Junnar Mella from Legazpi City shared how the PHP1,500 aid would help offset their daily fuel expenses amid climbing diesel costs. Abrigo plans to use the assistance to cover gasoline expenses for his daily trips, while Mella highlighted its importance for his family, especially with two children in college and one in elementary school.
Farmers like Leny Pe±arubia and Aurora Millete expressed gratitude for the PHP2,000 assistance, which they plan to use to mitigate the effects of extreme heat and low copra prices on their livelihoods. Pe±arubia, who farms in an upland area, mentioned that the intense heat has reduced her copra production, resulting in smaller yields. Meanwhile, Millete noted that the aid would help her family when crops do not yield enough food.
Shermine Millete, another farmer from Barangay Estanza, mentioned that the assistance would support her family in purchasing food and caring for their chickens while her husband recovers from surgery. Similarly, fisherman Ronel Artiaga from Barangay Maslog stated that the aid would be crucial during bad weather periods when he cannot venture to sea, allowing his family to buy rice and household necessities.
The AICS program is designed to assist individuals and families facing crisis situations, providing necessary support for their immediate needs.
