Senator Imee leads cash aid distribution to students, displaced workers

CEBU, Philippines — Senator Imee Marcos led the distribution of more than P17 million worth of financial assistance to students and workers in her two-day visit in Cebu.

“Mas mabuti tayo ang magbigay hindi tayo tatanda,” said the senator in an interview. She will be celebrating her birthday today.

On Saturday, November 10, the senator led the distribution of P3,000 worth of educational assistance to 1,724 student-beneficiaries of Cebu Technological University-Main Campus in Cebu City.

“Alam ko kulang na kulang talaga yan pero at least may naibigay tayo na ayuda sa atong mga kabataan,” said the presidential sister.

The event was attended by several CTU students and faculty at the school’s gymnasium.

On Saturday, Marcos went to the jam-packed Lapu-Lapu City gymnasium for the distribution of P3,000 financial assistance to 4,000 displaced workers of the Mactan Export Processing Zone.

Marcos, in her speech, said that it was his father who first started the first export zone in Cebu to spur economic development and generate more employment.

She said that the amount is just an “ayuda” meant to at least alleviate the displaced workers from the high cost of basic necessities, especially food.

Along with Marcos in the distribution were Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard “Ahong” Chan and wife, City Lone District Representative Cindi King-Chan, and Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 regional director Shalaine Marie Lucero.

The distribution of this financial assistance is through the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation.

Other attendees during the AICS payout include City Councilor Annabeth Cuizon, Department of Social Welfare and Public Employment Service Office head Kim Francisco, City Social Welfare and Development Office head Junard Abalos, and other guests.

The AICS serves as a social safety net or a stop-gap mechanism to support the recovery of individuals and families from unexpected crises such as illness or death of a family member, natural and man-made disasters, and other crisis situations.

Under AICS, the DSWD provides medical, burial, educational, transportation, food and other cash assistance to persons or families in crisis situations. — (FREEMAN)