Former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano extended his flagship financial assistance program to help persons with disabilities (PWDs) amidst the ongoing Omicron surge in the country.
During Cayetano’s Sampung Libong Pag-asa episode on Friday, a total of 50 PWDs from Cagayan de Oro City received P10,000 each from the program.
Cagayan de Oro Mayor Oscar Moreno thanked Cayetano for extending assistance to the city.
“On behalf of the city government of Cagayan de Oro and of course, the people of Cagayan de Oro, I’d like to thank former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, soon to be senator of this country, for the support that he is extending to the people of Cagayan de Oro,” he said.
The distribution of cash aid to PWDs in the city was facilitated by the city’s Social Welfare Department.
This is not the first time that the former Speaker reached out to PWDs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
SLP beneficiary and community volunteer Rosa Baldelobar of Marcelo Green Village, Parañaque was featured during the program’s Friday episode.
Previously, Baldelobar worked as a domestic helper to support her child. However, in 2018, blisters started to develop on her feet. She was later diagnosed with diabetes.
Doctors recommended that her affected foot be severed to prevent the infection from spreading to the rest of her body. Wanting to prolong her life, she agreed to the difficult proposal.
“Binigyan ako ng pangalawang buhay ng Panginoon,” Baldelobar said. “No choice ako. Pumayag ako pero ang hirap kasi na wala na akong paa.”
(God gave me a second shot at life. I had no choice. I agreed with the amputation but it’s not easy to lose a foot.)
Due to her condition, Baldelobar was forced to quit her job. She began spending more of her time in volunteer work and was eventually elected as the secretary of a local association in her barangay.
After she was selected as one of the beneficiaries of Cayetano’s Sampung Libong Pag-asa program, she immediately used the cash aid to launch a small e-load business.
“Kaya nakapagpuhunan ako sa e-load kasi iyon lang ang naisip ko na negosyo na kahit papaano, andito ako sa office. May kaibigan ako na magtetext. Mga dati kong amo nagpapaload. Nagkaroon po ako ng kapital dahil sa tulong ni Mr. Alan Cayetano,” she said.
(I was able to start a small e-load business. That was the only business on my mind since I can manage it while I’m here in the office. My friends and former employers would text me from time to time. I would not have secured this much in capital had it not been for the help of Mr. Alan Cayetano.)
Baldelobar’s newfound hope would motivate her to use her skills and talents to help others.
“Sa panahon ngayong pandemic, maraming taong naghihirap. Sa naranasan kong hirap, alam kong marami pa ring naghihirap. Kaya iyon ang naisip ko, yung blessing ko, ishe-share ko sa iba,” she said.
(Amidst the ongoing pandemic, a lot of people are suffering. I know that because I, too, experienced such suffering. That’s why I want to share my blessings with other people.)
