Speaker Martin Romualdez on Friday delivered nearly P12M worth of additional rice and cash aid to Puerto Princesa indigents and fire victims through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Romualdez acted in his capacity as caretaker of the third congressional district of Palawan when he transported the state-funded assistance to indigents and fire victims in Puerto Princesa City in cooperation with the DSWD and other donors.
In November 2023, the Lower House designated Romualdez as caretaker of the district after the death of its representative and former Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn.
“It is a duty I embrace with utmost seriousness to ensure that you, the heart and soul of our community, are supported and uplifted during these trying times,” Romualdez said of his additional responsibility.
The Speaker led the ceremonial distribution of assistance to over 2,200 indigents identified as beneficiaries under the Cash and Rice Distribution (CARD) program at the Provincial Capitol Convention Center.
Each beneficiary received P3,000 cash aid from the DSWD, along with five kilograms of rice from the Office of the House Speaker, or a total package of about P7 million.
Romualdez thanked DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian for the timely assistance extended to the fire victims and indigents in the third district of Palawan, which has a population of 345,815 based on the 2020 census.
In a separate event held at Mendoza Park, Romualdez led the ceremonial distribution of around P4.8 million in cash assistance to 700 fire victim household representatives, who received between P2,500 and P10,000 each under the DSWD Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.
The Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR) and youth group NextGen also sent relief packs that went to 681 households that were affected by the Feb. 7 fire incident in barangays Bagong Silang and Pagkakaisa, as well as the 19 households struck by the Feb. 14 fire in Brgy. San Miguel.
The event marked the second round of AICS distribution to the fire victim. Last Feb. 15 and 16, Romualdez oversaw the provision of P7 million worth of AICS aid at P10,000 for each of the nearly 700 fire victim households in the three affected villages.