Legarda reaches out to ASF-affected families in Hamtic, Antique

Senate President Pro Tempore Loren Legarda and Antique Representative AA Legarda reached out to their fellow Antiqueños affected by African Swine Fever (ASF) in Hamtic town by securing emergency cash assistance worth P18 million through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

“Nauunawaan natin ang kalagayan ng ating mga kababayang tinamaan ng ASF kung kaya’t agad tayong nagpadala ng tulong katuwang ang DSWD. Malaking dagok ito sa industriya ng agrikultura sa Hamtic, at nawa’y makatulong ang ating hatid na assistance sa pagbangong muli ng kanilang kabuhayan,” Senator Legarda said hoping that farmers and their families living in Hamtic will address their immediate needs by acquiring much-needed financial assistance.

“We also would like to emphasize transparency and accountability in the distribution of these funds so that the financial assistance will reach its intended parties because this becomes a matter of life and death for some,” she added.

The four-term senator has also secured generous allocations for education and livelihood programs in the province.

In addition to the cash assistance for the ASF-affected families are P50 million in collegiate scholarships, an additional P50 million allocated for the well-being of scholars, P124 million for the DSWD’s TUPAD program, and P100 million more for the Labor department’s Kabuhayan program.

Communication in numerous upland barangays has improved due to the installation of the Starlink Internet, empowering its residents with stable internet access and helping open opportunities in education and livelihood.

Senator Legarda expressed her sincerest gratitude to DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian for his unwavering support in helping secure funding needed for the urgent assistance of impoverished Filipinos.

“We thank Secretary Rex Gatchalian for his commitment to uplift the lives of many who have been afflicted by various setbacks that nobody wanted to happen,” remarked the senator. (end)