The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Bicol, in partnership with the Iriga City government, provided cash relief assistance to a total of 90 public market fire victims on February 5, 2024.

The identified vendors were tent stall owners who were greatly affected by the fire that occurred past midnight of February 2, 2024.

Each stall owner received PHP 10,000 from the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) Program with a total of PHP 900,000.

RD Norman S. Laurio ensured that complete assistance be given to these small business owners who lost their livelihood due to fire. He immediately ordered the provision of food and non-food items thru the DRMD and also instructed AICS (10,000.00) and the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) to provide cash assistance for their early recovery and rehabilitation amounting to PHP10,000 to 20,000 per vendor. SLP payout will soon be scheduled to complete the set of assistance.

“Labis po akong nagpapasalamat sa DSWD sa naibigay nilang tulong para sa aming mga maliit na tindera dito sa syudad ng Iriga. Isang malaking tulong po ito lalo upang mas mapabilis po ang aming pagrecover ng aming kabuhayan,” Marilou Borazon, a public market fire victim expressed her gratitude to the agency and its partners.

(I am deeply grateful to the DSWD for the assistance they provided for us small-scale vendors here in the city of Iriga. This is a huge help especially in speeding up our recovery of our livelihood.)

Affected families are temporarily housed at the Barangay San Francisco Evacuation and Day Care Centers where they have received the relief aid from DSWD DRMD last February 3, 2024.

Mayor Wilfredo “Rex” Oliva, Iriga City Social Welfare and Development Officer Maridel Verrosa, and DSWD Camarines Sur Provincial Team Leader Marian Monsalve were also present during the payout.

Mayor Oliva also expressed gratitude for the continuous efforts of the agency in helping the constituents revive their livelihoods. ###