BAGUIO CITY: The Summer Capital's qualified market entrepreneurs victimized by this year's March 11 fire at the city's public market received more financial assistance from government agencies and offices recently. A total of 355 eligible affected merchants received P10,000 livelihood assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) headed by Secretary Rex Gatchalian through the initiative of Mayor Benjamin Magalong. The mayor through the Office of the City Social Welfare and Development Office under Liza Bulayungan requested for a livelihood settlement grant through the Sustainable Livelihood Program of the DSWD to help the victims recover from their economic losses. The request was facilitated by the DSWD Cordillera regional office under Regional Director Leo Quintilla. 'The grant will be an important and useful component for the immediate recovery of the victims from the fire incidents through the reestablishment of their existing micro-enterprises,' Magalong said. Bulayungan said the grantees, who were classified as 'near-poor,' were prequalified based on the criteria set under the DSWD program. Last March 25, 2023, a total of 996 fire victims were awarded educational assistance with amounts ranging from P5,000 to P10,000 from Senators Christopher Lawrence 'Bong' Go and Robinhood Padilla, who each contributed P5 million for the assistance released through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program of the DSWD. Bulayungan said a total of 236 more stand to receive the same grant pending completion of the requirements. There were more or less 1,300 vendors affected by the fire but not all qualified for the assistance and grants based on the criteria and guidelines set by the local government unit.
