By Diann Ivy Cayetano Calucin
Around 1,000 beneficiaries of Assistance to Individuals in Crisis (AICS) received cash aid from Senator Grace Poe through the Manila local government at the San Andres Sports Complex on Tuesday, July 16.
In a fitting tribute to the barangay health workers who served as frontliners during the pandemic, Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan, joined by Vice Mayor John Marvin "Yul Servo" Nieto and Senator Grace Poe's son and Chief of Staff Brian Poe Llamanzares, led the distribution to AICS beneficiaries consisting of such workers and solo parents.
The distribution was made with the assistance of Manila-Department Social Welfare Chief Re Fugoso and representatives from the office of Senator Poe and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Lacuna-Pangan expressed profound gratitude to Senator Poe for sending her own son to take part in the activity and for including Manila in the cash assistance distribution.
"Alam nyo, napakaswerte ng Maynila dahil madaming taong tumutulong sa atin, alam nila ang pangangailangan ng bawat isang Manileño. Lahat kami ay instumento lamang... lahat kami ay nagtutulong-tulong (You know, Manila is very lucky because there are many people who help us, they know the needs of every Manileño. We are all just instruments... we all help each other)," she said.
"Kayo po ang napili dahil kayo ang karapat-dapat (You were chosen because you deserve it)," the recipients included solo parents from the first district of Tondo.
The lady mayor commended the dedication and courage shown by the barangay health workers during the pandemic, citing how they disregarded the risks involved in the performance of their duties and the strength of solo parents in rearing their children alone.
"Kahit anong tulong ay malaking tulong kaya kailangan nating magpasalamat nang bonggang-bongga sa mga tumutulong sa atin (Any help is a big help so we have to thank those who help us so dearly)," said the mayor as she led all those present in thanking the senator out loud and altogether.
"In behalf of the 1,000 na matutulungan ngayon, nais kong ipaabot sa ating mabait na senadora ang taos-pusong pasalamat ng Maynila at bawat isang Manileño (In behalf of the 1,000 who will be helped today, I would like to convey to our kind senator the sincere gratitude of Manila and every Manileño)," the mayor told Llamanzares.
Llamanzares, for his part, thanked Lacuna-Pangan and Nieto, saying without their assistance, the office of Senator Poe will not be able to extend help to the chosen recipients.
Llamanzares said he is continuing the legacy of his grandfather, Fernando Poe, Jr., who has always helped many Filipinos during his lifetime.
Nieto also lauded the barangay health workers and the solo parents for their resilience as she thanked Poe for always including Manila in her programs.
Nieto also recounted how the late FPJ helped the residents whenever he would go to Blumentritt.
The AICS is one of the social welfare services of the DSWD that provides medical assistance, burial, transportation, education, food, or financial assistance for needs of a person or family.