ANGELES CITY – Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian visited ground zero of the collapsed building here on Monday and personally met with the victims to check on their situation and provide necessary assistance on instructions of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
The DSWD Field Office 3 extended initial assistance to 34 individuals and their families amounting to P445,014, including 34 family food packs, 34 hygiene kits, 34 ready-to-eat food, and P10,000 cash assistance to each victim to address their immediate needs.
Transportation assistance was also provided by the agency to those who wanted to return to their home provinces, including nine from the City of San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan and seven from the Bicol region. Upon their return, they will be enrolled in the Sustainable Livelihood Program to help them start anew.
The DSWD-FO3 will also extend additional support to the families of the two fatalities through guarantee letter for burial assistance amounting to P50,000, as well as cash relief assistance under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations program.
Joining Gatchalian during his visit were Undersecretary for Disaster Response Management Group Diana Rose Cajipe, DSWD-FO3 director Venus Rebuldela, assistant regional director for operations Armont Pecina.
Mayor Carmelo “Jon” Lazatin II and Barangay Balibago chair Joseph Ponce accompanied them in their interactions with the victims. Punto News Team/DSWD-3