The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday distributed financial assistance worth PHP3 million to some 1,000 residents under crisis here.

In an interview, San Carlos City Mayor Julier Resuello said recipients are persons with disabilities (PWD), peddlers or market vendors and cancer patients.

“Sila ‘yong mga ‘di masyadong nakikita at hindi nabibigyan ng ayuda (They are those who are usually unnoticed and do not receive aid). We make it a point that those who will receive are those who are really in need,” he said.

Beneficiaries were awarded PHP3,000 in financial aid under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) of the DSWD.

Julita Muñoz, a market vendor and one of the recipients said she will be using the financial assistance for her six children.

“Pambaon nila araw-araw (It will be their allowance daily),” she said.

Erlinda De Guzman, a PWD and one of the beneficiaries, said will buy medicine for her sick child with the money she received.

“Nagpapasalamat po ako at mayroon ito kasi kailangan ko ng pambili ng gamot ng anak ko (I am so grateful that there is this financial assistance because I really need to buy medicine for my child),” she said.

Aside from the financial assistance from the DSWD, the office of Senator Christopher Lawrence Go, who was present during the ceremonial distribution, also gave grocery items, sports equipment, shoes, bikes and cellphones, among others.

“The PWDs and those who are sick were among those who were severely affected by the pandemic,” he said.

The AICS serves as a social safety net or stop-gap measure to support the recovery of individuals and families suffering from unexpected life events or crises, the DSWD said.

Meanwhile, Resuello said they will be requesting additional Malasakit Center and super health center as well as additional funding for the city’s community college from the national government through Go’s office.

“We already have PHP100 million for the community college but the budgetary requirement is PHP250 million. We would also want to request one Malasakit center to be placed at the Pangasinan Provincial Hospital situated in the city to cater to the residents and of the nearby localities,” he said. (PNA)