THE Offices of Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez as well as Tingog Party-list Reps. Yedda Marie K. Romualdez and Jude Acidre have facilitated the distribution of relief goods and release of financial aid to some 331 families who were victims of two fire incidents that hit separate locations in Quezon and Mandaluyong cities.

The financial aid is under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations Program (AICS) of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) of Sec. Rex Gatchalian and was given to families affected by the fires that hit Barangay Addition Hills in Mandaluyong City and Barangay Bagbag in Quezon City on June 14 and 15, respectively.

“The financial aid is part of a government program given to distressed individuals. I hope this small amount from the DSWD can help ease the pain of the families who lost their homes to these fire incidents,” Romualdez said.

Financial aid of P10,000 each was given to 206 families who were displaced by the fire that razed through a residential area along Pascual Street in Barangay Bagbag, Quezon City in a simple payout ceremony in Remarville Basketball Court last Saturday.

The same amount of financial assistance was also given to each of the 125 families affected by the fire that gutted a residential area in F. Martinez, Barangay Addition Hills in Mandaluyong City.

The total amount of financial aid reached P3.31 million.

Mandaluyong City Rep. Neptali “Boyet” Gonzales II and Quezon City Rep. Patrick Michael “PM” Vargas expressed gratitude and appreciation to Speaker Romualdez and Tingog Party-list for facilitating the release of financial aid to families affected by the fire.

“On behalf of the families affected by the fire in Mandaluyong, we express our sincerest gratitude to Speaker Romualdez and Tingog Party-list for extending financial aid at a time that it is most needed. Please bear in mind that this act of love and compassion will not be forgotten,” Gonzales said.

Vargas said the families granted financial assistance can really use the funds to help alleviate their situation and rebuild the homes they lost to the fire.

“Thanks to Speaker Romualdez and Tingog Party-list, these families can get back on their feet and rebuild what was lost. We are very thankful for this grand gesture. It gives hope to the people,” Vargas expressed.

The Mandaluyong City fire victims also received relief goods, most of them are currently seeking temporary shelter at the Tanglaw Covered Court in Block 19-A.

Brgy. Addition Hills Kap. Carlito Cernal expressed his gratitude to Speaker Romualdez and Tingog Party-list for their expeditious response in assisting the victims.

In his message to the families, Acidre hailed the strong community in Brgy Addition Hills and assured them of the never ending support of Tingog Party-list, may it be in Eastern Visayas or in National Capital Region (NCR).

The Offices of the Speaker and Tingog Party-list also provided relief goods to constituents of Vargas that were distributed to all victims who are currently taking temporary shelter at the Remarville Basketball Court.

Brgy. Bagbag Captain Rex Ambita also expressed his gratitude for the immediate response to help the victims.

Acidre gave an inspirational message to the victims and cited how Tacloban received various support during the Yolanda tragedy.

As a way of paying it forward, Speaker Romualdez and Tingog Party-list have been extending their help and assistance, especially during crisis situations.

The AICS assistance and relief goods symbolized ‘tingog’ or the voice of the fire victims and how their concerns were responded by Speaker Romualdez and Tingog Party-list.