‘LITAW’ program to aid calamity victims, says Sen. Tolentino

Senate Majority Leader Francis “Tol” Tolentino revealed that an assistance program he envisioned to help families displaced by calamities will be put into motion next month.

Liwanag, Internet, Kuryente Assistance Welfare or LITAW, Tolentino said in an interview with Bacolod City reporters in Cadiz City Thursday, that disaster victims are forced to prioritize payment for their utility bills to avoid disconnection even if thry are still in the process of rebuilding their homes.

Tolentino was in Cadiz as guest during the distribution of land titles and Certificates of Condonation and Release of Mortgage to thousands of Negrense agrarian reform beneficiaries at the Cadiz City Arena.

“In times of calamity, families should not be immediately burdened with utility payments. The Filipino family’s priority is to repair its home,” he pointed out.

“There should be a subsidy in place. I believe through the Department of Social Welfare and Development… should temporarily hold utility payments for internet, water, and electricity,” the senator said.

He emplasized that LITAW is designed as a solution for the countless Filipinos who face immense hardships due to natural disasters such as typhoons, fires, and earthquakes.

“It will ensure that the most critical needs, such as electricity, internet access, clean water, and direct welfare assistance, are swiftly addressed, to allow the affected families to regain a sense of normalcy during the recovery period,” he stressed.

Tolentino said that DSWD will lead the implementation of the program while Congress will provide the budget.

The senatir was the principal author of the Three Gives Law, enacted during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, which allowed consumers to pay their utility bills in installments.
Term of Office

In the same interview, Tolentino revealed that the Senate is geared towards approving the bill extending the term of office of barangay officials.

“We will extend the terms of the barangay officials for four years. three terms, instead of two terms,” Tolentino said, adding that instead of six years two terms, it is four years, three terms.* (Arman P. Toga/NDB photos)