The Palayan City government, led by Mayor Rianne Cuevas, has distributed food packs and cash assistance to the more than 12,000 families in their city.
According to Cuevas, aside from several kilos of rice, canned goods, vegetables and milk, they also handed P3,000 cash in assistance to every family in Palayan City, including those who belong to the so-called middle class.
“Alam ko na mauubos agad ang ipinamigay naming food packs lalo pa’t na-extend ang quarantine hanggang April 30 kung kaya’t naisipan ko na magbigay na rin ng cash assistance sa buwan na ito,” Cuevas said.
“Hindi lang poorest of the poor kundi pati yung mga nasa middle class binigyan na rin namin ng food packs at cash dahil mag-iisang buwan na rin silang walang trabaho, entonces walang kita,” the mayor added.
If to be summed up, she added that the city government will be able to distribute a total of P40 million to their constituents, from April 8, Holy Wednesday.
Cuevas said the fund came from their savings and Internal Revenue Allotment (IRA).
It was the mayor herself, together with the leaders of every barangay, who went to every house in the city and led the distribution of the relief packs and cash assistance to their residents, who were patiently waiting outside their houses.
“Ayaw ko kasing makarinig na hindi sila naabutan o pinipili lang ang aabutan kung kaya ako na mismo ang nag-abot sa kanila,” Cuevas explained.
“Nakakapagod pero worth it ang pagod kapag makita mo na nakangiti sila knowing na nariyan ang gobyerno nila sa oras ng krisis,” the mayor added.
Even the frontliners in Palayan City were given food packs and cash assistance by the mayor.