Hundreds of residents of Bondoc Peninsula in the province of Quezon on Wednesday received cash assistance from the government under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The 784 beneficiaries are members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and asexual (LGBTQIA+) group who received PHP3,000 each.

Bondoc Peninsula is in the 3rd District of Quezon and composed of the towns of Padre Burgos, Agdangan, Unisan, Pitogo, Macalelon, Gen. Luna, Catanauan, Mulanay, San Francisco, Buenavista, San Narciso, and San Andres.

The cash payout was facilitated by Alona Party-list Rep. Anna Villaraza-Suarez during the launch of the “Puso ni Alona para sa Bahaghari” at the Bulwagang May Puso in this town.

During the event, Mayor Matt Erwin Florido said the cash assistance, along with other benefits, was extended to the LGBTQIA+ community to emphasize that they are appreciated by their local government.

“Here in Gen. Luna, you are accepted regardless of your gender orientation or political color,” he said.

Suarez told the beneficiaries that her office is open to all sectors, regardless of gender and political inclination.

She said that aside from the AICS, there were other modes of assistance they could avail of, including the short-term employment contracts, scholarships grants and even hospitalization benefits.

“I don’t wish you to be sick. But in case you need hospitalization, the Alona Party-list has funds to private hospitals in Lucena City and specialty hospitals in Metro Manila including National Kidney Transplant Institute (NKTI), Philippine Heart Center and Philippine Lung Center. If we can, we will help you to achieve a zero balance billing in these hospitals,” Suarez said.

Ogie Yulde of this town, one of the recipients of the financial assistance, expressed his gratitude to the DSWD and Alona Party-list for recognizing their sector, which, he said, is one of the most vulnerable in the society.

“Alona Party-list is the only party-list who gave us importance and acknowledged that we are also in need of the government’s assistance. We are glad that we can actually say we are part of the community,” Yulde said. (PNA)