MASANTOL -- More than a thousand cash-for-work program beneficiaries from this town recently received their salaries from the local government here in exchange for a week-long service in their respective communities.
Mayor Danilo Guinto led the distribution of salaries to the beneficiaries who were evaluated as indigent by the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office.
He said the local government, through the MSWDO, allotted more than P3.3 million for the 1,400 beneficiaries, who received P2,370 each.
“Itong mga beneficiaries natin ay ilan sa mga hirap sa buhay at wala talagang kakayahan na makahanap ng maayos at permanenteng trabaho. Para magkaroon sila ng mapagkakakitaan, kinuha natin sila para maglinis ng daan at mga riverside,” he said.
Guintu said the program is an initiative of the local government distinct from the Department of Labor and Employment’s Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Displaced Workers program, which also aims to aid unemployed and indigent Filipinos.
He said the local government continue to come up with social programs to assist residents including the senior citizens, persons with disabilities and solo parents.
“Hindi tayo pwedeng dumepende lang sa proyekto ng national government kaya isip lang tayo ng isip ng programa at hanap ng hanap ng budget para matulungan ang kabalen natin na nangaingalangan. Itong trabaho na ibinigay natin sa kanila ay hindi permanente pero makakatulong na sa kanila iyong pera at sana sa mga darating na araw ay mabigyan na talaga natin sila na maayos na hanapbuhay,” Guintu said.
Cris Lacap, one of the beneficiaries of the cash-for-work program, expressed gratitude to the local government for continuously extending help to the residents including his family.
“Malaking tulong na po ito para maitawid namin ang ilang araw, lalo na nag-aaral po mga anak ko kaya malaki po ang pasasalamat ko talaga,” he said.