The province of Ilocos Norte has secured from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) an additional PHP20-million financial assistance to individuals in crisis situations (AICS).

Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph Manotoc confirmed this on Friday while reaching out to the different areas of the province recently hit hard by Super Typhoon Egay that left over PHP11 billion in damage to the province.

While distributing thousands of food packs, and non-food assistance to typhoon victims in Marcos town, Manotoc said residents affected by typhoon will be given assistance should they enlist themselves with the DSWD, in collaboration with the different local government units of Ilocos Norte.

“Rest assured that as your governor, I will do my best to help you the best I can and if I can’t, we have the national government to help us out,” he told the beneficiaries.

In Laoag City, some 500 typhoon-affected families received PHP2,000 each also on Friday through the DSWD AICS program through the initiative of Senator Loren Legarda, one of the senators who extended help to the province after the onslaught of the typhoon.

Jake Morillo, of Barangay Pila, Laoag City, “the cash assistance is helpful to make ends meet in this time of crisis.”

Christian Galvez, also of this city, also thankful for the cash assistance which he will use to buy school supplies in time for the upcoming opening of classes.

Other government officials, in coordination with local governments, are also sending their help to residents in Ilocos Norte as well as in nearby provinces of Ilocos Sur, Abra, and Cagayan.

Aside from the DSWD, the National Housing Authority is also extending housing assistance of up to PHP30,000 for families whose houses were totally damaged by the typhoon. (PNA)