In a significant relief effort, 361 families in Surigao City, who were impacted by Typhoon Kristine in October, were provided with financial assistance on December 12, 2024. The aid, amounting to over PHP1 million, was distributed under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program. Each family received PHP3,000 to help address their immediate needs as they recover from the typhoon’s aftermath.
The distribution event took place in Barangay Washington, where families from 20 different villages in the city gathered to receive their aid. Among the beneficiaries was Arlyn, a 24-year-old mother of two from Barangay Ipil. She shared her harrowing experience during the typhoon, which forced her family to evacuate to a local gymnasium due to partial damage to their home near the coastline. Arlyn expressed gratitude for the PHP3,000 assistance, noting it would help her purchase essential items like rice, food, and vitamins for her children.
The AICS program, as highlighted by the Surigao City Public Information Office, offers a range of support including financial, medical, and burial assistance to those in crisis. The office also urged other residents in need to reach out to the City Social Welfare and Development Office to avail themselves of the program’s benefits.