At least 500 Antiqueños received the services of various government agencies during the Integrated Sustainable Assistance Recovery and Advancement Program (ISARAP) convergence caravan held at the Binirayan Gymnasium here on Friday.
Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Assistant Secretary Rudy Encabo said the activity was in adherence to the instruction of President Rodrigo Duterte to give all-out government services to the people until the end of his term.
“The different government agencies are right here in Antique to bring the government services closer to the people and so I urge Antiqueños to take advantage of this opportunity,” he said in his message during the program.
Seventeen national government agencies set up their stalls with their information materials and personnel ready to answer the inquiries of the people.
During the caravan, 100 beneficiaries received PHP2,000 each under the aid to individuals in crisis situation (AICS) and five beneficiaries of the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) with PHP15,000 each.
Further, 260 workers of the Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Displaced/Disadvantaged (TUPAD) of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) from San Jose de Buenavista received their five-day advance salary during the program.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) distributed 61 packs of assorted vegetable seeds to 50 vegetable growers; 1,000 pots ready to plant fruit tree seedlings composed of 550 cashew, 300 guyabano, 100 papaya and 50 atis to 255 farmers; and, 2,500 agri-fishery reading materials to 435 clients.
Certified seeds were also distributed to 18 municipalities with a total allocation of 7 0,300 bags.
DSWD SLP beneficiary Arlene Castillon, who is from the town of Bugasong, said in an interview that the PHP15,000 she received will be added to her sari-sari store business.
“The assistance will greatly help me and my family,” she said as she promised to manage the small business well and let the capital grow.
TUPAD worker Rolly Cabanale said that he is eager to work now considering that he has no stable means of income.
Source: Philippines News Agency