TACLOBAN CITY- The provincial government of Eastern Samar will be providing financial assistance to individuals who were infected and those who died of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
Under the financial assistance program initiated by Governor Ben Evardone, dubbed as assistance to individuals in crisis situation (AICS) program, persons who were confirmed to have been tested of COVID-19 will receive P5,000 while the families of those who died due to complications compounded by the dreaded virus will be receiving P10,000.
Evardone said that the financial aid is their way of providing socio-economic relief to those directly affected by the coronavirus especially those whose family members died due to COVID-19.
The Provincial Social Welfare Development Office (PSWDO) in cooperation with the Provincial Health Office (PHO) is already processing the payroll of more than 1,000 beneficiaries from different municipalities in the province.
The releasing of the financial assistance to beneficiaries will commence as soon as the payroll is finalized.
The province has 1,181 total COVID-19 cases since the pandemic started last March,2020 of which 21 of them have died due to complications of the virus.
It was learned from Phres Evardone, provincial information officer, that the funding to be used for this financial assistance was sourced from the donation extended to the provincial government by former House Speaker Allan Peter Cayetano.
“The governor secured the fun from Congressman Cayetano then it was coursed through the Department of Social Welfare and Development and downloaded to us,” he said.
According to Evardone, the recipients have to present barangay certification, a social case study, and a valid identification, for them to avail of the cash assistance.
He added that they expect to start the distribution within the month.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
