GUIMBA, Nueva Ecija — Reamay Estresa, a 32-year-old mother afflicted with polio did not mind going to the municipal gymnasium here just to see in person for the first time Senator Imee Marcos, who led the distribution of P3-million worth of financial aid to about 1,000 beneficiaries here on Monday.

The wheelchair-bound Estresa, of Bgy. Sta. Lucia, a certified Person With Disability (PWD) was one of 100 PWDs aside from 676 women-leaders, and 224 senior citizens from the town’s 64 barangays, who benefitted from the distribution of the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) worth P3,000 to each beneficiary.

“Wala na po akong ibang hiling, malaking bagay na po iyun (P3,000) para sa amin, kasi walang trabaho mister ko at ganito ang kalagayan ko pa, at first time namin makakuha ng ayuda mula kay Super Ate Imee ng bayan natin at sana masundan pa ito,” Estresa, who was accompanied by her husband and four-year-old daughter told the Journal Group here.

Municipal social welfare officer Lina Corazon Garampil said it was the fourth visit to this town by the good senator and the second consecutive time she led the distribution of AICS during the celebration of the National Women’s Month this March.

During her address, the presidential sister, who was accompanied here by DA Asst. Sec. Kristine Evangelista said she holds the town of Guimba very close to her heart because its residents, mostly Ilocano-speaking still remain loyal to their family 36 years when they marked their successful return to Malacaňang in 2022.

Senator Marcos also announced that she is giving through the DA a P5-million agricultural grant to the municipal government to help finance its projects.

She also bared that starting next month of April the DA will begin distributing so-called “Farmers’ subsidies” worth P5,000 to each beneficiary.

AUTHOR PROFILE

Steve A. Gosuico