Senator Maria Imelda Josefa “Imee” Marcos together with Mayor John Dalipe distribute educational cash assistance to 1,000 students of the Zamboanga City State College of Marine Sciences and Technology (ZCSCMST) through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

As this developed, Mayor Dalipe thanked Sen. Marcos for facilitating the grant of the AICS to the students, which he said, will be a big help to the beneficiaries especially during the Yuletide season.

Each student-beneficiary received P5,000 cash assistance, totaling to P5M for the ZCSMT payout.

The distribution, held Thursday morning, December 14 at the ZSCMST Gymnasium, was the first of 2 payouts that Sen. Marcos and the DSWD-9 and Mayor Dalipe spearheaded. The second was at the Zamboanga Peninsula Polytechnic State College (ZPSSU) with similar number of beneficiaries.

AICS, through educational assistance is one of the interventions of the Crisis Intervention Unit under the DSWD, and is funded by the Office of Senator Imee R. Marcos.

Another batch of 1,000 beneficiaries from the same school are expected to receive similar assistance next year.

Present during the ZCSCMST distribution were were 1st District Congressman Khymer Adan Olaso, ZCMST President Dr. Jaime G. Jalon, DSWD Regional Director Riduan P. Hadjimuddin, teachers, and staff among others. (Bernadeth Lazaro)