SAN FERNANDO CITY, La Union (PIA) – Business owners affected by the fire that razed the public wet market in this city on January 11 will benefit from the P10 million financial assistance from the national government.

Francisco Paolo Ortega V, the first district representative of La Union, requested the said cash aid from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The P7.5 million is from the DSWD-Field Office 1 and the P2.5 million was secured from its central office through the help of the Office of the House Speaker.

On Friday morning, Ortega confirmed that once processed, the funds would be immediately disbursed to the fire victims through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program of the DSWD.

“We have received the good news that our request for financial assistance has already been approved so we expect the funds as early as Monday (January 15),” Ortega stated.

He added, “The City Government of San Fernando already has the list of beneficiaries.”

There are 1,156 registered business owners in the city auxiliary market affected by the fire incident.

Ortega initially noted that the amount of cash assistance per recipient is still uncertain as it will depend on the assessment of loss and damage to their businesses.

 “Through this financial aid, we want the fire victims to somehow cope from the incident and recover even their capital investment in the business,” he said.

Meanwhile, the legislator said his office is coordinating with the Department of Labor and Employment to possibly provide temporary emergency employment among market vendors.

Also, 2,000 food packs from Ortega’s office were turned over to the city government for distribution. (JCR/AMB/CGCC, PIA Region 1)