Imee gives cash aid to Cagayan students

CAGAYAN VISIT Sen. Maria Imelda Josefa ‘Imee’ Marcos greets students during her visit to Cagayan province on Aug. 18 to distribute P10,000 educational assistance to each of the 1,000 students from Gonzaga, Santa Teresita, Lal-lo, Abulug, Santa Ana, Sanchez Mira, Aparri, Ballesteros, Calayan and other towns severely affected by Typhoon ‘Egay.’ 

By Leander C. Domingo

LAL-LO, Cagayan -- Sen. Maria Imelda Josefa "Imee" Marcos distributed educational assistance to the Cagayan youth, particularly students who were affected by Typhoon "Egay."
    Cagayan Gov. Manuel Mamba said 1,000 selected students from Gonzaga, Santa Teresita, Lal-lo, Abulug, Santa Ana, Sanchez Mira, Aparri, Ballesteros, Calayan, and other towns that were determined to be most affected by the typhoon were given P10,000 each.
    Marcos was joined by Mamba and this town's mayor Florante Pascual during her visit in the Cagayan province on Friday, August 18.
    The senator said it is just appropriate to provide educational assistance because of the great impact left by Typhoon Egay, and that the assistance must be provided because of the series of hardships that students have also suffered during the pandemic, which also caused many deaths.
    "I thought of giving some help because, despite lots of problems we face today, we still have to provide for our children's schooling. We need money for tuition. You have been through a lot because of the two to three years pandemic; things are getting more expensive, and many have lost their jobs," the senator said.

The senator also gave P20 million for "cash for work" and P20 million for "emergency cash transfer" for the families of the students who did not receive educational assistance.

Board Member Rodrigo de Asis of Cagayan's third district, Police Regional Office 2 Director Christopher Birung, Cagayan Police Provincial Office Director Julio Gorospe, Gonzaga Mayor Marilyn Pentecostes, Santa Teresita Mayor Rodrigo de Gracia, Allacapan Mayor Harry Florida, Vice Mayor Olive Pascual and Officer in Charge Assistant Regional Director Franco Lopez of the Department of Social Welfare and Development also joined Marcos during the distribution.