DOT, DSWD distribute aid to Masbate tourism workers hit by Typhoon Opong
Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Antonio Ernesto “Anton” Floirendo Lagdameo, Jr. (right) and Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco (left) on Monday (Oct. 20) during the distribution of Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) assistance to 677 tourism workers affected by Typhoon Opong in Masbate City.
Hundreds of tourism workers in Masbate who lost their livelihoods to Typhoon Opong received emergency cash assistance on Monday through the Bayanihan sa Bukas na May Pag-asa sa Turismo (BBMT) program, a joint initiative of the Department of Tourism (DOT) and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
DOT Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco and DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian led the distribution of Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) aid to 677 tourism workers during a ceremony at the Magallanes Coliseum in Masbate City, joined by Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Antonio Ernesto “Anton” Floirendo Lagdameo Jr., who represented President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Other officials present included Education Secretary Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, Agriculture Undersecretary Engr. Roger Navarro, Masbate Governor Richard Kho, Vice Governor Fernando Talisic, Health Regional Director Dr. Rosa Maria Rempillo, and DOT Bicol Regional Director Herbie Aguas.
In her remarks, Frasco thanked Masbate’s tourism workers for their resilience and emphasized the importance of BBMT in helping disaster-affected communities rebuild.
“Nandito po tayo ngayon para sa pag-distribute ng Emergency Cash Transfer, kasali po ito sa programa ng DSWD at Department of Tourism na tinatawag na ‘Bayanihan sa Bukas na may Pag-asa sa Turismo’. Dahil alam naman po natin na sa turismo palaging may pag-asa,” she said. “Dahil po sa inyo, because of your service and hard work for the tourism industry, ay ang laking ambag po nito sa ating ekonomiya. Halos umabot na po sa 9% sa ating GDP ‘yung kontribusyon ng turismo, kasali po kayo diyan.”
L-R: Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian, Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco, Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Antonio Ernesto “Anton” Floirendo Lagdameo Jr., Masbate Governor Richard Kho, and Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sonny Angara distribute financial assistance to tourism workers in Masbate affected by the recent Typhoon Opong.
