Former Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday reached out to small canteens in Cebu, Bohol, and Negros Oriental affected by the onslaught of Typhoon Odette in December 2021.
Through his Sari-saring Pag-asa program, Cayetano distributed P3,500 each to a total of 300 beneficiaries from Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu City, Mandaue City, Talisay City, and the town of Oslob in Cebu; Tagbilaran City, Bohol; and Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental.
Cebu 6th District Board Member Glenn Soco said the Sari-Saring Pag-asa program is a timely initiative since numerous sari-sari stores and canteens in the province were badly hit by Typhoon Odette.
“Cebu is not only reeling from the pandemic but likewise, tinamaan kami ng Bagyong Odette kamakailan lang (we were recently hit by Typhoon Odette) and we have experienced so much devastation,” he said.
“And what is most affected na sektor is our MSME (micro, small, and medium-scale enterprises). Kaya nakikita ko na itong programa ni Senator Alan Cayetano is very, very needed sa mga negosyante natin,” he added.
(We saw that this program is very needed by many of our business owners.)
In Lapu-Lapu City, former Lapu-Lapu City Urban Poor Department head Tino Aying thanked Cayetano for reaching out to the city’s urban poor associations and small businesses.
“Tuwang-tuwa y’ung mga benepisyaryo, y’ung 40 associations, kasi malaking tulong ito sa bawat association at makakaasa kayo na alam ng mga tao ang inyong magandang hangarin,” he said.
(Your beneficiaries, these 40 associations, are happy because this will really help each association and rest assured that the people know your good intentions.)
Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes emphasized the program’s message of hope and asked beneficiaries to persevere amidst the devastation caused by the recent typhoon.
“We can lose everything but our faith, hope, and love will remain. This is the message of former Senator Alan Peter Cayetano. His program is entitled Sari-Saring Pag-asa. Hope that in our future, the dark clouds will give way to the rays of the sun,” he said in Cebuano.
On the other side of the Cebu-Bohol Strait, Tagbilaran City Mayor John Geesnell Yap thanked Cayetano for augmenting the city government’s efforts to provide relief to those affected by Typhoon Odette.
“Sa Tagbilaran City, alam naman natin na marami talaga ang nabiktima sa Bagyong Odette. So ngayon, nagbigay tayo ng ayuda, mga relief goods. Nagbigay tayo ng isang sako na 25 kilos (kada pamilya),” he said.
“Marami tayong mga relief goods mula sa private sector na nabigay natin sa mga Tagbilaranon at malaking tulong dito ay y’ung bigay ni Senator Alan Peter Cayetano,” he added.
(Here in Tagbilaran City, we know that many were affected by Typhoon Odette. Now, we’re giving our cash aid and relief goods. We’re giving 25-kilo sacks of rice per family. We’re also distributing a lot of relief goods coming in from the private sector, as well as cash aid from Senator Alan Peter Cayetano.)
Meanwhile, Dumaguete City Mayor Felipe Remollo advised beneficiaries in the city to use the cash aid as additional capital for their businesses and not for gambling.
“Use this cash aid as capital for your sari-sari store. Don’t use it to buy a new television set or cellphone. Don’t spend it on lottery or e-sabong. Grow your cash aid and build your business,” he said in Cebuano.
