Around 600 residents from this city on Wednesday received PHP2,000 each from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) Program.

Evelyn Daroy, a resident of Barangay Mamalingling, said she was grateful for the financial assistance.

“Gagamitin ko po (ito para) sa mga bilihin sa bahay (I will use this for the expenses at home),” she said in an interview.

Mayor Belen Fernandez said the beneficiaries were randomly chosen from every village and not from specific sectors.

“With the high prices of commodities, we wanted to ease somehow this burden from the poor households in the city,” she said in an interview.

Aside from the financial assistance, the office of Senator Francis Tolentino provided bags of rice, appliances and groceries as part of the prizes for a raffle promo, while six beneficiaries received wheelchairs. Free legal assistance was also provided.

AICS is a DSWD program targeted to support the recovery of individuals and families suffering from unexpected life events or crises. (PNA)