CAMIGUIN (PIA) — Aiding individuals in need, the provincial government of Camiguin allocated over P200 million to fund various social welfare programs.
“With this, we were able to provide 2,854 individuals with medical assistance; 2,298 with medicine assistance; 453 with burial assistance; 361 with transportation assistance; 41 with food assistance; and 12 with emergency shelter assistance,” Gov. Xavier Jesus Romualdo said in his 2025 State of the Province Address on January 6.
These initiatives include the Serbisyong PPR program, which received P15.2 million in funding from the Office of the Provincial Governor; families burdened with high healthcare costs now have access to critical treatments like chemotherapy, dialysis, and surgeries. The program has become a lifeline for many, offering financial assistance for medical expenses that would otherwise be out of reach.
Grateful for the social welfare assistance, Rhea Mhae Quipanes, one of the beneficiaries, said, “Naospital ko tungod sa dengue. Nagpasalamat ko sa gobyerno kay nakagawas ko sa hospital nga wala jud mi gibayran maski piso, pati sa akong tambal.”
(I was hospitalized because of dengue. I am grateful to the government because I could leave the hospital without paying even a single peso, including for my medicine.)
In addition to healthcare, the provincial government has expanded its support to cover a range of social assistance programs, ensuring that no Camiguingon is left behind.
Camiguin became the first province in the country to roll out the Ayuda Para sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP) Rice initiative. This initiative offers a P781 subsidy every three months to 25,676 beneficiaries across the province, allowing them to purchase up to 25 kilos of rice at half the market price, thereby alleviating the financial strain resulting from soaring food costs.
The Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa Ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD) program has also helped thousands of Camiguingnons by offering temporary employment in local infrastructure and community projects. This initiative not only provides a steady income for participants but also helps improve public services and infrastructure across the province.
Last year, Romualdo said TUPAD provided temporary employment to 13,395 Camiguingnons who received wages totaling over P67.5 million.
Recognizing the necessity of maximizing resources to sustain these programs, Romualdo emphasized the value of financial resourcefulness in tackling challenges.
“Prudent fiscal management, controls on spending, and some diskarte (strategy) can stretch our budgets a little further. However, even the most resourceful approaches fall short of meeting all needs, especially when the goal is to provide real, tangible, material relief to a constituent in need—kanang masolbad gyud o mapagaan gyud ang imong problema o sitwasyon (that your problem or situation will truly be resolved or alleviated),” Romualdo said.
In this endeavor, collaboration has proven to be a crucial factor. Working together with Rep. Jurdin Jesus Romualdo, the provincial government secured P130 million from the Department of Social Welfare and Development. This additional funding has enabled the expansion of these vital social welfare programs, extending support to even more vulnerable families.
Romualdo stressed that these efforts represent the province’s broader commitment to tackling the economic challenges faced by its residents. The provincial government is focusing on strengthening its social welfare programs to improve the lives of all Camiguingnons through ongoing resource allocation and management. (ALAO/PIA-10/Camiguin)
