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Families of fallen uniformed personnel laud gov't assistance

DAVAO CITY (PIA) -- The surviving spouses and families of fallen uniformed personnel from all regions of Mindanao expressed gratitude to the government for the assistance given under the Comprehensive Social Benefit Program (CSBP).

Among them is Lina Gula, 34 years old from South Cotabato, who has been raising her two children alone since 2020 when her soldier husband died in an encounter in Jolo, Sulu.

During the “PBBM: Pagpupugay sa mga Bayani ng Bansang Makabayan” assembly and thanksgiving on September 29, teary-eyed Gula said “laking pasasalamat ko na may ganitong ibinigay sa amin (I am very grateful that something like this was given to us),” particularly referring to the housing assistance given under the CSBP.

Mae Grace Autida (left) and Rechie Vegas (right) both from Bukidnon province express their profound gratitude to the government for not leaving them behind after the tragic demise of their soldier husbands through the assistance given.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. personally graced the event, which was a gathering of 300 CSBP beneficiaries at the Dusit Thani Hotel in Davao City, where he paid tribute and extended gratitude to the members of the Army, Police and other uniformed personnel who died or were wounded in the line of duty.

Thelma Desierdo from Pagadian City, Zamboanga del Sur, whose son died fulfilling his duty in the army, thanked the government for the assistance and for responding to their needs promptly.

“Dako kaayu ko’g pasalamat nga naa mi nadawat (I am very grateful for what we received),” she said referring to the housing assistance she availed of aside from the cash assistance provided.

She also commended the government for the immediate response,saying “nag-process mi’g  Disyembre pagka Enero nadawat dayon nako ang cash… Dali ra gyud kaayu ang tabang sa gobyerno (We processed in December and in January I received the cash assistance... The assistance from the government was quick.)”

Rechie Vegas from Maramag, Bukidnon expressed gratitude to the government for the financial assistance, housing assistance, medical assistance, and scholarship grants for her children she has received since the death of his partner in 2020.

She stressed, “Dili man mabalik ang kinabuhi sa among mga bana, pero ang gobyerno wala nagkulang sa pag-assist sa amoa nga dili namo ma-feel, though ‘di mabayaran ang kasakit pero at least naay kaabag gi-bati karon (Our husbands' lives can't be restored, but the government has not failed to assist us, so we can't really feel the pain, even though the pain of losing a loved one can't be paid, but at least we have an institution helping us on now).”

Similarly, Mae Grace Autida from Quezon, Bukidnon, whose husband died in 2016, is also thankful for the housing assistance and scholarship grants for her children, most especially the employment assistance that led her to find a stable job in their locality.

Moreover, Rocelle Sabado, 35 years old and a mother of three from Calinan, Davao City said that the assistance given 

Rochelle Sabado (right) from Davao City is grateful for the assistance given under the CSBP and hopes that the program will be sustained to help more left-behind families.

under the CSBP was a great help in sustaining her family even without her husband. Sabado’s husband died in 2017 while on duty in Luzon.

“Big help, super malaking tulong, sana i-continue lang ni President BBM kasi hindi lahat naka-avail yung sa housing, kawawa din yung iba (It is a big help, super helpful, I hope President BBM will continue the program because not everyone has availed of the housing, there are some who also need help),” she said.

Mae-Ann Mangumihay is hopeful that she will avail of other benefits like housing and scholarship grants aside from the financial assistance she has received so far.

Mae-Ann Mangumihay, 33 years old from Buenavista, Agusan del Sur, whose husband died in 2020, hoped to avail of all other assistance under the program.

Currently, she said she had only availed of the cash assistance from the Special Fund Assistance. She has been processing the requirements for housing assistance and scholarship grants for her child.

The CSBP is an institutionalized mechanism signed under Executive Order No. 110 by former President Rodrigo Duterte to provide speedy, sustainable, and rationalized social benefits and assistance to the military, police, and their support unit.

The program covers military and police forces who are killed or wounded in legitimate action or operation and their 

qualified beneficiaries. These include PNP, AFP, BJMP, BFP, PCG, and members of CAFGU/CAA of the AFP.

The benefits and assistance provided are special financial assistance, scholarship assistance, social welfare assistance, health and medical care assistance, shelter assistance, and employment assistance.

Abdullah Matalam, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) XI Assistant Regional Director and Regional Chairperson of Comprehensive Social Benefit Program (CSBP) Killed In Action and Wounded In Action (KIA WIA), is thankful to the current administration for sustaining the program, which is very beneficial to the families left behind by fallen soldiers. (ASO/CLC, PIA-XI; Thumbnail photo courtesy of PCO)

About the Author

Antonino Oblianda

Job Order

Region 11

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