BATAC CITY, July 13 -- Batac City public market stall owners and their helpers affected by a fire on July 5 received additional financial assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Monday.

The financial assistance amounted to PHP10,000 each for the 92 stall owners and PHP5,000 each for helpers.

Ilocos Norte Governor Cecilia Araneta-Marcos, who led the distribution, said the DSWD fund was downloaded to the provincial government as part of its disaster response and early recovery interventions for the market owners and workers whose sources of income were disrupted by the fire.

"Blessings come in different ways. Rest assured that we will try everything to help you," Governor Marcos said as she thanked Pres...