The office of House Speaker Martin Romualdez has donated a calamity fund worth P500,000 each to Oriental Mindoro's 1st district and Davao de Oro's 1st district. This was learned by the Manila Bulletin Sunday, March 26 even as the Speaker’s office also facilitated the distribution of targeted financial aid to these locations' residents in light of the oil spill and recent earthquake that have affected the regions, respectively. Congressman Arnan Panaligan received the P500,000 calamity fund for Oriental Mindoro, while Congresswoman Maricar Zamora and Vice Governor Tyron Uy received the half-million peso calamity fund for Davao de Oro. It was Feb. 28 when oil tanker MT Princess Empress capsized off the waters of Oriental Mindoro, triggering a massive oil spill that has affected thousands. Meanwhile, on March 22, a 6.0-magnitude earthquake struck the Davao de Oro, causing a considerable damage to property to local residents. The offices of Romualdez, Tingog Party-list Rep. Yedda Marie Romualdez, and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian jointly facilitated the distribution of cash aid worth at least P3,000 to residents. The "ayuda" was part the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program of the DSWD. According to the Speaker’s office, 600 oil spill victims in Oriental Mindoro were each given cash aid worth P3,000 on Saturday, March 25. The Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) Program distribution in Pola, Oriental Mindoro for the oil spill victims on Saturday, March 25. (Speaker’s office)

Over in Compostela, a total of 319 AICS beneficiaries received cash aid of P3,000 each. In New Bataan, a P5,000 cash assistance was given to each of the 503 beneficiaries, all from Andap, which was heavily affected by the earthquake. Also receiving AICS money amounting to P3,000 each were 285 residents from the remote Barangay Tandik of Maragusan, Davao de Oro. In Barangay Paloc, Maragusan, also in Davao de Oro, an additional 465 families whose houses were partially damaged benefitted from P3,000 financial aid. Also, an additional 81 families whose homes were totally destroyed received P5,000 each. House Deputy Secretary General Sofonias Gabonada represented the Romualdez couple in the ayuda distribution and was accompanied by Davao de Oro 1st district Rep. Zamora. Speaker Romualdez’s message was delivered by Gabonada, who bared that when the Speaker’s province of Leyte fell victim to typhoon "Yolanda" in 2013, Davao de Oro was one of the provinces to send aid.
Speaker Romualdez said it is in situations like quakes and other calamities where the government has to come to the succor of those affected. “The presence of the Marcos administration through the help it extends eases the pain and suffering of the victims,” he said. For her part, Rep. Romualdez said: “We know the amount of assistance does not really cover the damage caused by disasters. But we hope it alleviates a little our citizens' plight in times of need.”