Bacolod Rep. Greg Gasataya, Negros Grace Pharmacy president Ian Manuel Lo, and lawyer Mark Steven Mayo provided financial aid to numerous Bacolodnons confronted different urgencies in life.
The distribution was held at the covered court of Brgy. Montevista in Bacolod City Tuesday and another round of distribution was held Wednesday.
Thousands of Bacolodnons received financial aid in the form of medical or burial assistance through the Department of Social Services and Development (DSSD), facilitated by the Office of Congressman Gasataya.
Each beneficiary received P5,000.
About P4.5 million was released to the said residents from the end of the government.
In addition, Negros Grace Pharmacy president Ian Lo also contributed P3,000 to the 111 families of Purok Herbabuena, Circumferential Road in Brgy. Villamonte, Bacolod City, whose houses were demolished by a private owner through a court order.
The funds were sourced from the personal funds of Lo and the private funds of Gasataya.
An elderly Marcela Pacasita got emotional when she received the financial assistance worth P8,000 from the combined aids of the government as represented by Gasataya and from the private sector represented by philanthropist Mr. Lo.
“I have stayed in a gutter since my house was demolished. I wept because it was painful to lose a house so special to my family and me and also because I received this money which I had prayed for. This will be very helpful to me and my family given our current condition,” she said.
Lo said he helps families being assisted by Congressman Greg because “We both know that many people are undergoing difficult situation. The pandemic has greatly affected the people’s economic and health conditions, plus the fact that these 111 individuals representing their families have lost their houses to demolition. I cannot imagine the hardship that these individuals and families are going through. I hope what we gave can help ease their burdens,” he said.
Gasataya thanked Lo for assisting their fellow Bacolodnons who are enduring different conditions in life.
“I also come from a low-income family, and I know how it feels to have nothing. Since Mr. Ian Lo and I have the means to help them, we decided to give financial assistance to this sector. I also thanked Mr. Ian Lo and his company for always being ready and kind to give back to the community,” he said.
Gasataya also wished everyone to stay safe as the battle against Covid-19 is not yet over.
Mayo, who has been collaborating with Gasataya and Lo, also felt the joy that the beneficiaries have felt.*
