“Sustainable assistance po ang tiningnan naming maibigay na assistance sa inyo. Para po pagkatapos dito hindi ho ito ang magiging huli bagkus ay mayroon kayong masasandalan (We are looking for the provision of sustainable assistance to you, so that after this, there will be more so that you’ll have something to depend on).” This was the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD)  Secretary Rex Gatchalian’s message during the Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) ceremonial payout on February 8, 2023 at the General LunaGymnasium, General Luna, Surigao del Norte (Siargao Islands).

The ESA ceremonial payout was conducted for the beneficiaries whose houses were totally damaged during the onslaught of Typhoon Odette which hit the country last December 16, 2021.

Afterwards, Secretary Gatchalian went straight to the municipality of Dapa gymnasium to catch up with the Social Pension for Indigent Senior Citizens Program (SPISC) payout.

As Sec. Gatchalian delivered his message, the beneficiaries and attendees welcomed him with a thundering applause. “Mahirap man pong maging senior citizen sa panahon ngayon sapagkat nagmamahalan ang bilihin. Ngunit huwag ho kayong mabahala dahil po tuloy-tuloy na ho ang social pension ninyo hindi na ho yan mababali (It may be difficult to be a senior citizen in this time due to the high prices of commodities. However, don’t be troubled, because your Social Pension will not be hampered – it will continue to come)”, DSWD Sec. Gatchalian in his message.