LINGAYEN, Pangasinan: “Ang Pangasinan ay isang pamilya at sa pamilyang ito, wala pong maiiwan. Ang AKAP po ay hindi lamang pera o ayuda, higit sa lahat, isang simbolo ng pagkakaisa at pag-asa tungo sa magandang buhay. Patuloy po kayong humawak sa pananampalataya. Kasama po ninyo ang Pamahalaan ng Pangasinan sa pag-abot po ng isang magandang bukas.”
This message of Gov. Ramon V. Guico III was conveyed by Atty. Novy Marie Cruz of the Provincial Legal Office (PLO), representative of the governor during the Ayuda Para Sa Kapos Ang Kita Program (AKAP) held at the Provincial Training and Development Center (PTDC) on September 7 and 8, respectively.
AKAP, a program of Pres. Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., through the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), headed by Sec. Rex Gatchalian, along with Speaker Martin Romualdez and Cong. Mark Cojuangco, in partnership with the provincial government of Pangasinan, aimed to provide financial aid to minimum wage earners falling under the low-income category.
A total of 2,580 Tricycle Operators and Drivers Associations (TODA) from Lingayen were the chosen beneficiaries of the AKAP program distribution held at the Provincial Training and Development Center.
Each beneficiary received three thousand pesos (P3,000.00), or the sum of seven million seven hundred forty thousand.
2nd district, Cong. Mark Cojuangco, who spearheaded the undertaking along with some key officials of the province, said that TODA has always been his chosen beneficiary for AKAP.
‘Matagal ko na pinili na TODA ang matulungan dahil alam ko na nagtratrabaho kayo, nagbibigay kayo ng lingkod sa ating mamamayan ng Lingayen ngui’t kulang ang inyong kita. Magagamit niyo talaga kung matulungan kayo ng ating gobyerno, dagdag capital, pangtawid sa problema at kung anu-ano pang paggagamitan ng tulong,’ Cong Cojuangco said.
Meanwhile, Vice Gov. Mark Ronald Lambino assured that all programs of the government, of the province, and the LGUs will reach the public.
“Anggapoy pinili, anggapoy bawasan tayo. Amin ya sarag min gawen para ed sikayo, basta walad legal, walad lugar insan anggapoy nadehado, eter mi ed sikayo. Say promisa mi labat, serbisyo’y munisipiyo, Kapitolyo tan Kongreso, sigsigurado, onleksab ditan ed barangay yo,’ VG Lambino added.
The two-day activity exemplified a higher standard of service and mirrored the cohesive efforts and initiatives of leaders for the common good of all.
Attendees of the event were 2nd district SPM Philip Theodore E. Cruz, 2nd district SPM Haidee S. Pacheco, former Lingayen Mayor Josefina ‘Iday’ Castaneda, Lingayen Municipal Councilors, barangay captains, and officials present, as well as TODA Presidents, among others.
(Chona C. Bugayong, Orlan Llemos/PIMRO)
