The Municipality of Bauang, under the leadership of Municipal Mayor Eulogio Clarence Martin P. De Guzman III, successfully conducted a pay-out for beneficiaries of the Aid to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) program on Thursday, March 27, 2025 at the People’s Hall, Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO), Barangay Central West, Bauang, La Union. The distribution was facilitated through the MSWDO, led by Ms. Arlie R. Alonzo, RSW.

A total of 322 beneficiaries received financial assistance under various categories of medical, burial, food subsistence support, livelihood assistance, emergency shelter aid, and educational assistance.

“Evil will prosper when the good keep its silence,” Mayor De Guzman said in his message about the issue of the sale of the Bauang Power Plant by the Provincial Government of La Union (PGLU) in 2022. With regard to employment, he shared that only Bauang sends farmers to South Korea, one in Taebaek City and another in Jeongson County, securing our place in international affairs and boosting employment.

Ms. Alonzo remarked that Hon. Tanya Roberta A. De Guzman passed the Ordinance in 2022 which institutionalizes the AICS in Bauang, first among cities and municipalities nationwide. This Ordinance ensures faster approval for AICS distribution. She reminded the beneficiaries that they can request assistance again when they need it. She also greeted everyone a Happy Women’s Month.

Mayor De Guzman remains committed in leading Bauang in prioritizing social welfare initiatives, ensuring that aid reaches the most vulnerable members of the community.

Written and Photographed by: Korina Esteban-Ma