More than a thousand Palaweños from various sectors recently received livelihood assistance from the offices of Senators Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano.
On December 6, 7, and 9, 2023, 1,430 individuals, including members of Tricycle Operators and Drivers’ Association (TODA) in Puerto Princesa City and Coron, city small business owners, and fisherfolk from the municipalities of El Nido and Taytay, received aid from the senators’ teams to boost their daily income.
The disbursement activities were done in coordination with Palawan First District Representative Edgardo “Egay” Salvame, Puerto Princesa City Agriculturist Melissa Macasaet, and Senator Alan Peter Cayetano’s Chief Political Officer Monica Mitra. Partnering with them were the Department of Social Welfare and Development 4B Region through its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) Program and Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).
On December 6, a thousand fisherfolk were given aid at Balayong Park in Puerto Princesa City through the DSWD-AICS program. One of the beneficiaries, Mercelita Mortel, said the aid serves as a blessing for her family in these trying times.
“Malaking tulong po ito na makasuporta sa hanapbuhay namin lalo ngayon na malakas ang hangin at hindi kami makalayag,” Mortel, a fisherwoman from Barangay Bancao-bancao, Puerto Princesa City, said during the event.
Two more disbursements were held on December 6, this time through the DSWD-SLP, in which over 300 Palaweños received generous aid at two locations, namely Mendoza Park and Barangay Salvacion Covered Court in Puerto Princesa City.
Jeffrey Abadiano, a market vendor from Barangay Tiniguiban, joined the 327 beneficiaries in thanking the senators for their help. “Maraming salamat po sa biyayang binigay niyo sa amin mula sa naipaabot niyong dagdag puhunan. Malaking bagay po ito para sa kagaya naming mahihirap,” Abadiano said.
The next day, December 7, the senators’ teams went up north to provide help to at least 120 more Palaweños through DSWD-SLP payouts each in the municipalities of Taytay, El Nido. At least 90 TODA members and small business owners were helped in Taytay, while 30 TODA members were helped in El Nido.
On the final day of the activity, December 9, the teams delivered aid to TODA members in Coron, also under DSWD’s SLP.
This was not the first time the Cayetanos provided province-wide assistance in Palawan. Last June, at least 500 Palaweños received medical assistance from the Cayetanos at the Ospital ng Palawan in Puerto Princesa City, Northern Palawan Provincial Hospital in Taytay, and El Nido Community Hospital in El Nido to cater to hundreds of locals in need of medical care.
When Taytay was battered by typhoon Odette in 2021, the senators also extended assistance through grocery packs and other forms of help to the displaced constituents.
A number of eatery workers from Taytay are also part of the beneficiaries from Cayetano’s flagship Sampung Libong Pag-asa program, which grants P10,000 to families in need of immediate economic relief.
