P7.5M cash aid distributed to 1.8K Ilonggos

ILOILO CITY – The Department of Social Welfare and Development released P7.5 million in cash assistance to 1,800 beneficiaries from qualified sectors during a payout held here on Wednesday.

The office of Uswag Ilonggo Party-list Rep. Jojo Ang facilitated the release of P10,000 educational assistance to 300 college students and P3,000 each to 1,500 recipients for the Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP).

"These are funds of the national government. These are programs of the administration of President Bongbong Marcos and supported by House Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez. This is people's money, and we are giving them back to you," Ang said in his message.

Recipients of the educational assistance receive P10,000 every year until they graduate.

The partly-list has around 5,127 scholars.

He urged the recipients to use the funds where they deemed needed.

Meanwhile, a 72-year-old recipient of the AKAP fund, Nilda Salario, from this city's Barangay Camalig, said she would use the assistance to purchase pesticides for her half-hectare farm.

She also expressed her gratitude for the support from the government.

A fruit vendor for over 10 years, Violeta Dela Riarte, 64, said she would use the assistance as additional capital.

Another recipient, a second-year nursing student, Celine Mae Apedra, said she was very happy because the assistance could help defray her expenses, especially tuition.

"I will use this for enrollment. Thank you for the money. I am overwhelmed," she said. (PNA)