PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Monday personally headed the distribution of financial aid to the victims and the families of the Roxas Night Market blast last September 2 that left several casualties.
Duterte handed over the checks from the national government to the victims and relatives of the deceased amounting to P250, 000 each for the family of 15 individuals who died during the blast.
The same amount were also given to the families of victims who are permanently disabled and unable to work while P100,000 cash assistance were given to each of the victims who sustained minor injuries including other medical assistance and allowances for their antibiotics.
"I treat them (those who were seriously injured) as equal to those who died because it would take them time before they can work again or to find a livelihood," Duterte said on Monday, September 19, 2016 at Matina Enclaves, Davao City.
There were a total of 69 individuals who were injured during the explosion but only 11 who were "reduced to disability" received P250,000 each.
The President said that he sourced out the fund from the emergency funding of the government in times of disaster and calamities like the recent bombing.
Duterte also said that people do not hold their fate and that every individual has his or her time in the will of God.
The families of the victims thanked Duterte for his help.
"I am thankful to the President for giving us financial assistance. Through this, our sorrows were at least lessened. We are now praying that we could recover from the pain," said Rogelio Cagantas Sr., father of massage therapist named Rogelio Cagantas Jr. who was among those killed in the explosion.
Cagantas Sr. added that the president told him to use the money for goodness and they also plan to deposit the money in the bank for its security and for future purposes.
His son was buried last September 13.
Meanwhile, Dennis Larida, a truck driver and a resident of Tugbok District, Los Amigos, Davao City and husband and father of two Melanie Faith Larida and Deniel Josh Larida who died in the blast said he already forgave the person behind the bombing.
"Napatawad ko na sya, wala akong hatred sa kanya. Alam ko na ang Panginoon is very merciful, sino pa kaya ako na tao lang? Ang hiling ko lang sa kanya ay ma-meet ko siya, maka-share ako ng gospel sa kanya," Larida said, pertaining to the perpetrator.
Larida added that he had accepted the fact that his wife and son are gone and everything that happened has a reason.
His wife and son were buried last September 10.
Valentina Decolongon, a resident of Surallah, South Cotabato and the mother of Kristelle Decolongon, who was one of 15 fatalities, planned to put up a business as it was her daughter's dream to provide them another source of income.
Kristelle was laid to rest September 17.
A survivor named Joan Juan Reyes, who was on a wheelchair, told SunStar Davao that President Duterte, upon giving the money, asked for her condition.
The president told her that if she has problems, she would just ask Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio or direct to him.
Reyes, a mother of three, will have to raise her three children alone after her husband Christian Denver Reyes died and plans to use the money for the education and future needs of her children.
Reyes was discharged last week from San Pedro Hospital.