Despite its remoteness, the offices of Senators Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano returned to the Municipality of Hagonoy this week to provide vital calamity assistance to an additional 500 flood victims.
As a coastal community, Hagonoy experienced a number of catastrophic floods in 2023, rendering at least 20 of its barangays inundated and hundreds of families displaced and in dire need of support.
Recognizing the urgency to provide rehabilitation (pang-ahon) packages to displaced Bulakenyos, the sibling senators have mobilized their resources to ensure that aid reaches those most affected by the disaster.
The aid came in two batches: on April 23, 2024, the Cayetanos’ team visited Hagonoy to provide aid to more than a thousand flood victims.
The second round of distribution occurred a week later, on April 29, to benefit 500 more beneficiaries.
Additionally, the Cayetanos’ medical team were on the ground to offer medical assistance to ensure that every affected individual receives the health services they require.
Estelle Ople-Osorio, one of the coordinators of the calamity assistance drive, thanked the senators for thinking about their situation despite the remoteness of the area.
“Gusto ko lang po pasalamatan sina Senator Alan Peter at Pia Cayetano dahil hindi nila nakakalimutan ang bayan ng Hagonoy. Hindi po pansinin ang aming lugar, medyo malayo kami sa kabihasnan pero never silang humindi sa paghingi namin ng tulong,” Ople-Osorio said of the senators during the April 30 drive held at Hagonoy’s Sangguniang Bayan Municipal Covered Court.
“Ramdam po namin ang pagmamahal ninyong dalawa. Thank you po sa sincere ninyong serbisyo sa aming lugar at sa aming pamilya dito sa lahat ng Bulakenyo. More power sa inyong tunay na serbisyo at pagmamahal sa mamamayang Pilipino!” she added.
The assistance drive was done in coordination with Hagonoy Mayor Flordeliza Manlapaz, Vice Mayor Maria Rosario Sy-Alvarado, and Councilor Baby Ople, in partnership with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) under its Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program.
AICS provides essential assistance to people affected by crises like floods, earthquakes, and those affected by El Niño to aid their recovery.
170 more receive livelihood aid
The next day, on April 30, the senators’ team also visited the Municipality of Norzagaray to provide livelihood aid to 170 Bulakenyos from the women’s groups, senior citizens, and barangay health workers.
This was done in partnership with Norzagaray Vice Mayor Baldo Gener, Board Member Art Legazpi, Board Member Jay De Guzman, and Councilor Maricar Pelayo.
Senators Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano remain committed to supporting communities affected by natural disasters and will continue to monitor the situation in calamity-stricken areas to provide assistance as needed.
