The government will continue to find ways to extend assistance to Filipinos who are still recovering from the Covid-19 pandemic three years ago, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Wednesday as he led the distribution of various forms of aid to residents of San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.
“Kaya po ay kahit papaano, mayroon pa rin po sa ating mga kababayan ang naiwanan sa recovery. Hindi pa nakapag-recover,” the President said in his speech at the convention center in San Jose del Monte City.
“At dahil kailangan naman ay tiyakin natin na ang pamahalaan ay ginagawa ang lahat upang tulungan ang ating mga kababayan, upang tulungan ang ating mga maliliit na negosyante, upang tulungan ang lahat ng nangangailangan, na kahit papaano ay talagang naabutan nung ekonomiya ng pandemya, ay nalugi na, nagsara na ‘yung mga kanilang negosyo, walang mahanap na trabaho,” the chief executive stressed.
The President noted that the assistance and support given by the different government agencies is also to cushion the effects of inflation on the economy.
The administration, President Marcos added, will also be focusing on generating not just jobs but decent and quality work for Filipinos.
“Kaya’t sana naman ay ito naman ay hindi na tatagal para gumanda ang ekonomiya. Maganda naman, dumadami naman ang trabaho. At saka hindi lamang ‘yung pangkaraniwan na trabaho kung hindi ‘yung magagandang trabaho, ‘yung may future naman. ‘Yun ang aming nilalakad,” the President pointed out.
“Ngunit, hangga’t umabot tayo doon, ito po ang ginagawa ng ating pamahalaan upang tulungan ang mga nakikita natin na hanggang ngayon ay nangangailangan pa ng tulong,” the President said.
Upon his arrival at the convention center, President Marcos personally turned over three combine harvesters to the Biyaya ng Matangtubig Irrigators, Sta. Catalina Matanda Bata Irrigators, and Magmarale Farmers’ Field School.
President Marcos also handed over 10 Negokarts, worth Php30,000 each, and three sari-sari store packages, worth Php20,000 each, to identified beneficiaries during the event.
Various government agencies, such as the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), gave livelihood assistance worth Php1 million to 50 members of a local coffee farmers’ group in the area.
The DOLE through its Integrated Livelihood Program also extended Php4.7 million worth of assistance to 946 beneficiaries under its Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged Workers Program (TUPAD).
Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture (DA) also awarded certificates for the construction of a warehouse with mechanical grain dryer worth Php5 million and Integrated Swine Production Initiatives for Recovery and Expansion worth Php5.5 million to the Dulong Bayan Farmers’ Association.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) likewise distributed food packs worth Php5,000 each to the residents under its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program while the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) provided loan assistance worth Php3.4 million under its RISE UP Loan Program to selected beneficiaries.
During the event, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) also provided residents in the area free training and assessment and distributed starter toolkits for shielded arc welding. #
