MABALACAT CITY – The Mabalacat City government, under the leadership of Mayor Crisostomo Garbo has given cash assistance to over 30,000 Mabalaqueños in a crisis situation.

The distribution of cash aid is mandated under the city’s “Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations” (AICS) Program spearheaded by the City Social Assistance Office (CSAO) and the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO).

The social protection program, which has been running for three years now, gives financial support to the city’s poor, marginalized, vulnerable, and disadvantaged residents.

“Nang tayo po ay maupo bilang alkalde ng siyudad ng Mabalacat, isa po sa ipinangako natin sa mga Mabalaqueño ay isang pamahalaang mapagkalinga, maaasahan, at higit sa lahat isang gobyernong madaling maabot at dama ang serbisyo,” said Mayor Garbo.

“Hindi po natin binigo ang ating mga Ka-Mabalaqueño sa usaping ito. Binuksan po natin ang city hall, ang ating mga tanggapan, maging ang aking opisina upang dinggin ang hinaing ng mga Mabalaqueños na nangangailangan ng suporta at kalinga ng pamahalaang lungsod,” the city mayor added.

Under the program, the local government was able to deliver support to its constituents in need of medical and laboratory assistance, treatment and hospitalization assistance, educational assistance, emergency shelter and food assistance, burial assistance, transportation assistance, including aid to senior citizens, persons with disabilities, solo parents, and also to victims of accidents and natural disasters.

For 2019, the city set aside P59.4 million in financial assistance, benefitting some 4,999 individuals.

In 2020, the city expanded its cash aid services to P79 million, granted to 10,557 Mabalaqueños. For 2021, in the wake of the COVID-19 surge, the city extended financial assistance to more than 15,000 individuals amounting to P141.8 million.

Meanwhile, Mabalaqueños who wish to apply for the financial assistance program may visit the City Social Assistance Office (CSAO) located at the Mabalacat City Hall, from Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Applicants shall undergo review, assessment, and case study to be jointly facilitated by the CSAO, the City Social Welfare and Development Office (CSWDO), with the city’s Population, Gender and Development (POPGAD) Office.

“Makakaasa po ang ating mga Mabalaqueños sa tuloy-tuloy na serbisyong ito sa mga darating na mga taon. Nagpapasalamat rin tayo dahil nariyan ang buong suporta ni Vice Mayor Gerald Aquino at ng mga miyembro ng Sangguniang Panlungsod sa programang ito,” the city mayor added.

For the fiscal year 2022, the city government has earmarked P153.5 million to back the continued implementation of the AICS social protection program.

Under Mayor Garbo’s help, Mabalacat City has cemented its identity as a benchmark for best social services programs, having been recognized by various institutions and national government agencies such as the Commission on Population (POPCOM), the National Nutrition Council (NNC), the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), and the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW).