ILOILO City – Women beneficiaries from Barangay Sto. Niño Norte, Arevalo district felt relieved and grateful for the government’s P6,000 financial assistance during these difficult times due to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Seventy-eight-year-old Erlinda Bacayil couldn’t help but be misty-eyed. She will use the money to buy her prescription medicines. She was not able to buy them because she prioritized her familly’s food.
Bacayil lives with her son whose work as a day laborer was affected by the enhanced community quarantine (ECQ).
“Wala na kami kwarta,” said Bacayil, adding that she was ashamed to borrow money again.
Four-month pregnant Renelyn Ababao was grateful that she was included in the list of Social Amelioration Program (SAP) beneficiaries. She said she can now have her pre-natal and laboratory tests.
She will also buy things needed in the house. Her husband who works in a construction is currently jobless.
Relief and gratefulness were evident on the face of Ervie Robles while holding her SAP cash aid. She said her family relied on food packs and assistance provided by their village council since the ECQ started.
Basic necessities, particularly rice and viand, are the things she will buy first with the money.
They all thanked the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the lead agency in the implementation of the SAP intended to help low-income families cope with the impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
Punong Barangay Melvin Minerva said the cash assistance is a big help to the beneficiaries, especially if they know how to use the money properly during these tough times, considering the challenges of the “new normal” not only in finding a job but also in keeping oneself and family safe against the virus.
He emphasized the value of social distancing as one of the ways to prevent the virus from infecting his constituents.
A total of 142 beneficiaries from the first batch of identified SAP recipients from the barangay received their cash aid during the distribution on April 29 at the Arevalo Gym. (PIA-Iloilo/PN)
