Families and individuals affected by Severe Tropical Storm (STS) Kristine in the Province of Batangas receive financial assistance from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr and Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian during the distribution of presidential assistance to select farmers, fisherfolk and their families.

More than 4,000 beneficiaries from the municipalities of Talisay, Laurel, and Agoncillo received Php10,000 each under the DSWD’s Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) during the consecutive aid distribution in Talisay and Laurel, Batangas on Monday (November 4).

Both PAFFF events in Batangas were supervised by Secretary Gatchalian and other key government officials including Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG Philippines) Secretary Juanito Victor Remulla, Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Secretary Anton Lagdameo, and DSWD Undersecretary for Operations Monina Josefina Romualdez.

After the aid giving, the President, together with Secretary Gatchalian and other Cabinet officials, attended a Holy Mass in memory of the people who perished during the onslaught of STS Kristine at Barangay Sampaloc in Talisay, Batangas.

The President issued Proclamation No. 728, series 2024 on October 30 declaring November 4 as a Day of National Mourning “in solidarity with the bereaved families and loved ones of those who perished due to the devastation brought by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine. (YDP)