JASMINE D. JASO
True to his words, Governor Dennis “Delta” Pineda is consistently giving various assistance to indigent students and needy Kapampangans across the province.
This holds true as the provincial government distributed P4,000 each to 825 students in Guagua town on Thursday, June 23.
This came after Governor Delta heeded the call of some indigent students to also be included in the Educational Financial Assistance Program (EFAP).
“Isa sa aking mga prayoridad ang edukasyon, kaya hangga’t nandito ako, hindi ko pwedeng pabayaan ang ating mga kabataan,” said Governor Delta.
The event coincided with the conduct of the Cash Assistance Program, spearheaded by the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO), in the municipality of Sta. Rita.
A total of 2,919 needy Kapampangans here received P3,000 worth of cash assistance each.
According to Governor Delta, the program is aimed at supporting the primary needs of the indigent families in the province, especially those who were gravely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Regular po itong programa natin na ‘to, nahinto lang dahil nagkaroon ng election ban. Pero ngayon, itinutuloy na po natin,” said Governor Delta.
“Iikot po tayo sa mga barangay para mag-abot ng tulong, lalo na sa ating mga Cabalen na nangangailangan,” he added.
During the program, the governor also announced the resumption of the Alagang Nanay Program in the province.
“Dahil patuloy na po sa pagbaba ang kaso ng COVID-19, nagsimula na po ulit tayo sa pagsasagawa ng medical operations. Dito, nagbibigay tayo ng libreng healthcare services sa ating mga Cabalen na may mga pangangailangang-medikal, lalo na sa mga kailangang sumailalim sa major at minor operations,” said Governor Delta.
The provincial government, through the support and assistance of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), also held a salary pay-out for 1,000 Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) beneficiaries in the municipality of San Luis.
On behalf of Governor Delta, Angelina Blanco—special assistant to the governor—expressed her gratitude to town residents for their overwhelming support for the Pineda administration.
“Humihingi po kami ng paumanhin at ngayon lamang naipamigay sa ating mga benepisyaryo ang tulong-pinansyal sa kadahilanang naabutan po tayo ng election ban noong mga nakaraang buwan. Asahan po ninyo na tuluy-tuloy pa rin po ang tulong ng Kapitolyo sa inyong lahat—magmula sa medical, agricultural, infrastructure, kabuhayan, at iba pa nang sa gayon ay mas guminhawa ang inyong buhay. Hindi po magsasawa si Governor Delta na tumulong sa ating mga Kabalen,” said Blanco.
She also thanked President Rodrigo Duterte and Labor Sec. Silvestre Bello, III for being one with Pampanga in helping Kapampangans distressed by the pandemic recover.
“Malaking tulong po ang programang ito sa ating mga Kabalen dito sa San Luis, lalo na po’t nararamdaman pa rin natin ang epekto ng COVID-19 pandemic, at ngayon naman po ay nagtataas ang presyo ng mga bilihin,” Blanco added.
TUPAD, as defined by the DOLE, is “a community-based package of assistance that provides emergency employment for displaced, underemployed, and seasonal workers for a period of ten (10) to thirty (30) days.”
