Over 3,000 Catandunganons received aid and gifts from the island’s latest visitors, Vice President Sara Z. Duterte and Senator Imee Marcos, when they arrived together last Nov. 23, 2023 for a brief visit and met with local officials at the Capitol Convention Center.
In his welcome message, Governor Joseph Cua thanked VP Duterte for choosing Catanduanes as a target beneficiary of aid and gifts, highlighting the fact that this was not her first visit to the island.
“Ito na po ang pangalawang pagbisita ni Vice President sa Catanduanes, na noong isinalanta ng Bagyong Rolly ang Catanduanes ay personal na nagbisita ang Vice President upang magbigay ng tulong sa aking mga kababayan. Nagbigay sya ng tulong na nagkakahalagang 1.5 million pesos para sa aming rehabilitasyon,” the chief executive stated.
In another display of charity and support to Catandungans, the Office of the Vice President was able to give year-ender food packs consisting of pasta, rice and canned goods worth approximately P1.3M to 230 people in Virac, and 227 people in each of the other 10 municipalities, as part of its gifft-giving activity.
Aside from this, the OVP also gave financial help under the Assistance to Individuals in-Crisis Situation (AICS) worth P1.5M to children of fisherfolk and abaca farmers in all 11 towns: 50 from the capital town and 45 from the other 10 municipalities, for a total of 545 recipients.
Speaking to the crowd, VP Duterte called for the people’s support for the government, from the national agencies to LGUs, in the effort to achieve peace and progress.
“Huwag ninyong sususportahan ang mga taong mayroong masasamang balak sa inyong lugar — mga kriminal, mga terorista, mga NPA, mga tao na nagbebenta ng mga droga, mga scammer, mga swindler. Huwag ninyong suportahan ang mga tao na ito dahil sila ang makakasira sa katahimikan ng inyong komunidad,” she stressed as she called for unity among the people.
Duterte, who is also education secretary, emphasized the need for everyone to realize the importance of education which she said would bring a bountiful, happy and stable life for all.
“Lagi kong sinasabi: sa pagtatapos ninyo, walang mayaman at walang mahirap,” the VP pointed out. “Pareho niyong binigyan ng importansya ang edukasyon. Kailangan po maintindihan ninyo na edukasyon, mayroon tayong makikitang pagbabago sa ating bansa.”
For her part, Sen. Marcos also recalled allotting two to three million pesos to Catanduanes under the AICS program and cited her father’s association with the Alberto family during the time of the late Rep. Jose Alberto.
After the Capitol event, the VP and the senator, with their respective staff, proceeded to Palnab del Sur Elementary School where they conducted a tree planting activity and distributed PagbaBAGo bags for 203 learners in Grades 2, 5 and 6.
Both activities are part of the OVP’s PagbaBAGo campaign which focuses on children’s access to education and the importance of the environment, among other things.
The visit is in line with the Office of the Vice President’s celebration of its 88th Anniversary, with VP Duterte and her team identified the beneficiaries for the gift-giving activity and AICS aid distribution, as well as the implementation of the PagbaBAGo campaign in the island.
The visit was made in close collaboration and partnership between the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), the OVP’s Satellite Office 5, and the Provincial Local Government of Catanduanes headed by Gov. Cua.