THE OFFICE of the Vice President and the Department of Social Welfare and Development joined forces to provide cash assistance to the families of the students in Oriental Mindoro who were affected by the oil spill.

The two agencies distributed P740,000 last June 14 to the students of the Francisco Tria Memorial School. Each family received P20,000.

The giving of the cash assistance was the third partnership of the OVP and DSWD after the sinking in February of MT Princess Empress which was carrying 800,000 liters of industrial fuel.

The oil spill affected the livelihood of fishermen in Oriental Mindoro and neighboring provinces.

In April, Pola Mayor Jennifer Cruz said that the oil spill affected students as well because their parents could no longer provide them their daily allowance in going to school.

The OVP thanked the DSWD for the continued partnership to give assistance to Filipinos in need.