VP Sara leads cash, goods distribution

CEBU, Philippines —  Vice President Sara Duterte put smiles on more than 2,000 faces in the City if Naga City, Cebu yesterday as she led the distribution of financial assistance and gift packs.

Duterte first went to Tuyan Elementary School where 400 women and senior citizens and 500 drivers of public utility vehicles in Cebu Province waited for her.

The 400 beneficiaries are part of the TUPAD or Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers Program of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), that provides temporary employment and support to displaced workers. Each beneficiary received P4,300.

TUPAD beneficiaries are engaged in community-based projects that address local needs, such as transport of goods, clean-up drives, and other public services.

The program is a community-based package of assistance that provides emergency employment for displaced workers, underemployed and seasonal workers, for a minimum period of 10 days, but not to exceed a maximum of 30 days, depending on the nature of work to be performed.

Further, the 500 PUV drivers are beneficiaries under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

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.

After the first batch of distribution, Duterte proceeded to ECAC-Activity Center in the same city for the gift-giving of 1,340 beneficiaries who are persons with disabilities and members of the LGBTQIA community.

The bag of goodies from the Office of the President consisted of ten kilos of rice, canned goods and uncooked spaghetti.

City of Naga Mayor Valdemar Chiong expressed gratitude for Duterte’s gesture of kindness and said it is an honor and privilege to be visited by the vice president.

For her part, Duterte also thanked the public for their support to her in the last election and for supporting the Duterte administration in the last six years.

The vice president also urged those who attended to support the current administration by not supporting any acts of terrorism, like the recent bombing in a gym inside Marawi State University.

"Dili gyud kita mo suporta aning mga tawo nga adunay daotang tinguha sama sa mga kriminal, terorista, smuggler, swindler ug scammer nga daghan na kaayo ni sila karon,” Duterte said.

Duterte, who is concurrently the secretary for the Department of Education, likewise urged the beneficiaries to always support their children’s education.

“Akong hangyo tanan ninyo ug sa atong gobyerno nga ipasabot sa inyong pamilya ngadto sa atong mga kabataan nga kinahanglan magtinarong sa ilang pag-eskwela kay it will change their lives. Unta maka istorya ninyo sila ug masabtan nila kung unsa ka importante ang edukasyon sa ilang kinabuhi,” she said. (CEBU NEWS)