BALER, Aurora — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday assured continued government support for the tourism sector as he led the distribution of financial aid, training certificates, and other assistance to workers affected by last year’s typhoons in Aurora.
“Asahan po ninyo… kapag kayo ay naging biktima ng kahit anong klaseng sakuna, asahan ninyo po na nandito ang inyong pamahalaan upang alalayan kayo,” Marcos told beneficiaries at the Baler Convention Center. He added that government efforts extend beyond crisis response, aiming to further strengthen and grow the tourism industry.
A total of 1,197 tourism workers affected by Typhoon Nika and Super Typhoons Ofel and Pepito in November 2024 received unconditional financial support from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in partnership with the Department of Tourism (DOT). Simultaneous payouts in other Aurora municipalities are scheduled from September 2 to 5.
The President also reported that more than 2,800 individuals nationwide have received training and financial aid under the Bayanihan sa Bukas na May Pag-asa Para sa Turismo (BBMT) program. In 2023, nearly 1,400 beneficiaries were assisted in the Davao region, around 70 in Agusan del Sur, and 1,300 in Oriental Mindoro.
The Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) program, implemented by the DSWD, provides unconditional cash assistance to disaster-hit families. It serves as a bridge between disaster relief, humanitarian response, and early recovery, while also helping revive local tourism economies by giving workers resources to rebuild their livelihoods.
With reports from the Philippine Information Agency (PIA)
