‘AHON’ convergence program of Duterte administration launched in Siargao
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Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar joined the launching of the Aid and Humanitarian Operations Nationwide (AHON) Convergence Program in the town of San Benito, Surigao del Norte on Wednesday, June 9, 2021.
GENERAL LUNA, Surigao del Norte, Jun. 11 -- National government agencies gathered here from June 9-11, 2021, to bring social services closer to the people, as part of the response to assist families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and provide updates for other local projects to aid communities.
The
Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) and the Department of
Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) led the series of ceremonial launching
for the Aid and Humanitarian Operations Nationwide (AHON) Convergence Program
through the distribution of DSWD’s Livelihood Assistance Grant (LAG) and
Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) to identified individuals.
The
AHON Convergence Program is an interagency initiative to pour necessary aid to
the most affected communities in times of calamities and emergencies, including
the pandemic.
This
is pursuant to Executive Order No. 137 signed by President Rodrigo Roa Duterte
on May 24, 2021, which accelerates and harmonizes aid and humanitarian operations
of the national government during disasters and emergencies.
The
convergence program kicked off in the town of San Benito, followed by Sta.
Monica, Burgos, and General Luna in Surigao del Norte.
The
national government distributed livelihood grants worth a total of P1.5 million
to 109 beneficiaries in San Benito on June 9; P1.5 million to 148 beneficiaries
in Sta. Monica on June 10; and P2.25 million to 169 beneficiaries on June 11.
The
DSWD also distributed financial assistance worth P300,000 to 100 residents in
Burgos on June 11, under the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation
(AICS).
Aside
from financial assistance from the DSWD, the PCOO also turned over Personal
Protective Equipment (PPE) sets and Laging Handa information, education and
communications (IEC) materials about the national COVID-19 vaccination program,
to the local government units (LGUs) to support to their respective Barangay
Health Emergency Response Teams (BHERTs), who are the first responders to the
pandemic.
“Inin
mga hinabang diri karun nga ipanghatag sa ijo ang magpamatood nga ang ijo
gobyerno - ang administrasyon ni Presidente Rodrigo Duterte - padajon sa
paghatod sa serbisyo publiko nga tinud-anay nga malasakit sa katawhan. Segun
kini sa giingon ni Presidente Rodrigo Duterte nga bringing the government
closer to the people (This assistance that will be given to you today is proof
that your government - the Duterte administration - continues to deliver a
public service with genuine concern for the people.
This
is in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s marching order of bringing the
government closer to the people),” PCOO Secretary Martin Andanar said.
The
PCOO chief also said that through the AHON convergence program, LGUs will have
better access to the programs of the government in times of crisis.
DSWD
Assistant Secretary Victor Neri, meanwhile, urged the beneficiaries to use the
grant wisely, and assured them that the national government is ready to respond
to the needs of all Filipinos.
“Yan
po ay isang batas ng Presidente. Ibig sabihin lang po na kapag mayroong
kalamidad at nangangailangan po kayo, ay darating po kaming lahat po, kaming
mga ahensya, sabay-sabay sa inyo. Kami po ang bababa sa inyo (This is the order
of our President. It means that in times of calamities and in times of need, we
will be here to help, all the agencies will converge to help),” Asec. Neri
said.
“Baha,
lindol, sunog, pagputok ng bulkan, kalamidad, kahirapan, livelihood, health,
entrepreneurship, habang nandyan po ang Presidente nakaupo sa MalacaΓ±an- ay
tuloy-tuloy lang po ang ating mga programa (Floods, earthquakes, fires, volcanic
eruptions, calamities, poverty, health, businesses, while the President is
there in MalacaΓ±an, our programs will continue),” he added.
Other
agencies in the AHON Convergence Program include the Department of Health
(DOH), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and
Industry (DTI), Technical Education Skills Development Authority (TESDA),
Department of Agriculture (DA), the Department of Information and
Communications Technology, the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, and the
Office of the Special Assistant to the President (OSAP).
Local
chief executives of the benefitting town expressed their gratitude for the response
of the national government in augmenting their efforts to provide for their
constituents.
“Thank
you very much, President Duterte for bringing these assistance to the people of
General Luna. Through this AHON program, we can now request for aid with
immediate response from the national government,” General Luna mayor Cecilia
Rusillon said.
In
a separate meeting, Poblacion 2, Borgus barangay captain Roger Pomoy detailed
how the intervention of national government officials have helped lobby their
proposed programs for the barangay, including Senator Christopher “Bong” Go and
PCOO Secretary Andanar.
“I hope that these efforts will continue and that everyone will maintain their cooperation for the welfare of more people in Burgos. We have longed pushed for our programs to be funded and implemented here and with your interventions, it is finally here,” said Pomoy. (OSEC Media/PCOO/PIA-Surigao del Norte)
