Extra love and care for Abreños. Beneficiaries during the DSWD-AICS Payout in Bangued, Abra on March 6-8, 2024 take a group photo
with key officials of the DSWD-Central Office, DSWD FO CAR, and Provincial Local Government Unit (LGU) of Abra. (From left, DSWD-
CAR Protective Services Division Chief Mary Ann G. Buclao, Abra Vice Governor Hon. Maria Jocelyn Valera Bernos, Assistant
Secretary for Specialized Programs under Operations Group Florentino Y. Loyola, Jr. (representing DSWD Secretary Rex T.
Gatchalian), Governor Dominic Valera and DSWD FO CAR Concurrent OIC-Regional Director (RD) and Assistant RD for Operations
Enrique H. Gascon, Jr.) Photo courtesy of the Office of the Provincial Governor of Abra.
With each beneficiary receiving P5,000.00, about P57M worth of food and cash assistance was distributed to different sectors in the province during the three-day payout.
Representing DSWD Secretary Rex T. Gatchalian, Assistant Secretary for Specialized Programs under Operations Group Florentino Y. Loyola, Jr., and DSWD-CAR Concurrent OIC-Regional Director (RD) and Assistant RD for Operations Enrique H. Gascon, Jr. spearheaded the event, together with the team from the Social Welfare and Development (SWAD)-Abra Office and DSWD-CAR’s Crisis Intervention Unit, in close coordination with the Provincial Local Government Unit (LGU) of Abra at the Abra Sports Complex.
In his message during the opening ceremonies, Asec. Loyola talked about the different programs of DSWD such as AICS, Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), and the Kapit Bisig Laban sa Kahirapan Comprehensive and Integrated Delivery of Social Services (KALAHI-CIDSS), among other services and assistance that can further help Abra communities in improving their life situations.
In consonance with this year’s Educator’s Day and the annual Abrenian Kawayan Festival, DSWD-CAR honored teachers and parents alike for their invaluable contributions to the lives of learners and the community at large in the payout for members of the Parents and Teachers Associations (PTA) of different primary and secondary schools in Abra, solo parents and persons with disabilities (PWD).
Rowena Monserate, one of the AICS recipients and an officer at the Manabo PTA Federation, shared in an interview that she is thankful for this opportunity.
“Agyaman kami unay iti amin nga inparabur yu kenyami,” she said. “[Agbalin daytoy] support iti pinagbasa da—magamit da iti tuition fee, pang-allowance da, ken dagiti amin nga kailangan iti panag-iskwela. (We are very grateful for the help that was given to us. It will be used to support their schooling—for their tuition fee, allowances, and school supplies.)”
“Daytoy naawat ket dakel nga tulong kadakami nga umili para idjay kailangan ti ububing iti school da (This is a big help for us especially for the school needs of our children,” said Fernando Barbasa, Jr., 43, one of the recipients and a solo parent of 4 from San Juan, Abra.
Meanwhile, three (3) Sustainable Livelihood Program Associations (SLPAs), namely, Namnama Association, Saccaang Pamana Association, and Ducligan Namnama Association were each awarded a P300,000.00 cheque as part of the Payapa at Masaganang Pamayanan or PAMANA (PAMANA) Program. PAMANA Program under the SLP aims to support communities towards the improvement of isolated and hard to reach areas, contributing to peace and development. ###DSWD-CAR Social Marketing Unit – Christian Robert M. Sandoval, Administrative Officer IV/Information Officer II
