ARENA-7 President and DepEd-7 Regional Director Dr. Salustiano T. Jimenez (1st from left) leading the distribution of assistance to fire victims held at Marcelo Fernan Press Center, Brgy. Lahug, Cebu City on March 19, 2025. (RGC/PIA7 Cebu)
CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) – Members of the Association of Regional Executives of National Agencies in Central Visayas (ARENA-7) on March 19 distributed relief goods and supplies to fire victims in Sitio San Vicente, Brgy. Lahug, this city as part of the group’s Compassion Project.
The association provided 5 kilos of rice and grocery packages that included dry goods and hygiene kits.
Meanwhile, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7 also turned over family food packs containing 6 kilos of rice, 10 canned goods, cereal, and coffee.
According to ARENA-7, a total of 82 affected families who were victims of the fire on Feb. 27 in Brgy. Lahug received the said assistance.
In his message, ARENA-7 president and Department of Education 7 regional director Salustiano Jimenez said the association will continue to help those in need under their Compassion Project every year.
“Kini atong compassion project, kanunay gyud namong gibuhat labi na sa mga panahon nga naay manginahanglan, ginagmay ra ni amoang tabang gikan sa among kasing-kasing, nanghinaot sad mi nga naa mi mahatag sa inyu bisan ginagmay lang,” Jimenez said.
(This is our compassion project; we always do it, especially when there are people who really need help. Through this initiative, we are hoping that we can provide you something even if it’s in a small amount.)
“Hinaot nga padayun ang inyung pagsabot sa atong gobyerno, ug kami pud sa national government agencies, naningkamot sad mi unsa among pwede matabang sa inyuha,” he added.
(We are also asking for your understanding of our government, and we at the national government agencies will continue to implement initiatives and activities in order to help you.)
Meanwhile, Ronald Villanueva, 36, one of the fire victims, expressed his gratitude to ARENA-7 for the assistance that they received.
“Ngayo mig pasalamat sa naghatag ani nga grasya, pasalamat kaayo sa ginoo nga bisan ingani among kahimtang naa gihapon mi nadawat. Salamat gyud kaayo sa ARENA-7 bisan ginagmay lang ni inyung gihatag pero kinasing-kasing, dako gyud kaayo ning tabang sa among pamilya, hinaot nga daghan pa inyung matabangan nga mga nanginahanglan,” said Villanueva.
(We thank the ones who gave us this blessing. We are very grateful to the Lord that even in our situation we were able to receive some help. Thank you very much to ARENA-7, the assistance that we received is really a great help to our family. I hope that they can help more people, especially those in need.)
Also present during the distribution of assistance were Philippine Information Agency (PIA) 7 regional head Fayette C. Riñen.
The Compassion Project is an annual initiative of ARENA-7 that provides aid to people facing difficult situations, such as victims of disasters.
This year’s distribution was conducted at the Marcelo Fernan Press Center in Sudlon, Brgy. Lahug, Cebu City. (RGC/PIA7 Cebu)
