By Mariela Angella Oladive
A total of 1,500 residents of Iloilo City received financial assistance under the Ayuda para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Wednesday, July 10, at the Iloilo Freedom Grandstand.
The beneficiaries, comprising various sectors such as minimum wage earners and low-income workers including ambulant vendors, farmers, and delivery riders, each received P3,000 in cash aid.
The payout event was led by Uswag Ilonggo Partylist Congressman James “Jojo” Ang, Vice Mayor Jeffrey Ganzon, Executive Assistant Raisa Treñas, Councilor Allan Zaldivar, PSTMO head Jeck Conlu, and former councilors Lyndon Acap, Jay Treñas, and Mandrie Malabor, among others.
In an interview, 72-year-old Nilda Guelos and 54-year-old Violet Dela Riarte, a farmer and fruit vendor for over 10 years, respectively, expressed their gratitude.
“I am very thankful to be one of the recipients of this program. I will use the cash I received to boost my capital,” Dela Riarte said, while Guelos shared that she will spend the money on their farm.
In addition to the minimum wage earners, 300 college scholars were granted P10,000 each as part of the educational assistance program of Uswag Ilonggo.
Cong. Ang explained the program is part of their yearly initiative to provide educational assistance to USWAG college scholars until they graduate.
“We continue this every year, granting P10,000 per school year for each student based on recommendations for selection. We aim to help those less fortunate. For this year, we have a total of 5,127 scholars, and looking forward, we plan to increase the number by 10,000 each year,” Ang remarked.
He added that he wants to focus his office’s funds mainly on social services such as medical and educational support.
Celine Mae Apedra, a second-year nursing student at the University of Iloilo, shared her relief.
“I am happy because I am one of the recipients. Our tuition fees are quite high, and we lack funds for our needs. In nursing, expenses are numerous, so this P10,000 will greatly help us. I will use this for my enrollment,” she said.
