More than 400 Antique mall workers receive assistance

A total of 430 employees who were displaced by a massive fire that gobbled Gaisano Grand Mall in San Jose de Buenavista, Antique received assistance from the provincial government.

Around 77 mall workers received cash assistance, rice, and relief goods on June 22, 2021 at Delegate Angel Salazar, Jr. Memorial School (DASJMS) in San Jose de Buenavista.

The first batch of assistance was distributed on June 18 to 323 affected employees.

The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) reported that each employee received P5,000 worth of cash assistance.

Aside from the aid, the displaced employees were also referred to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and Technical Education and Skills Development (TESDA).

However, some 200 displaced employees have yet to receive the assistance as PSWDO is still looking for funds.

The fire that gutted the Gaisano Grand Mall Antique on June 17, 2021 destroyed the stalls particularly at the second floor of the mall, forcing businesses to close down and mall workers to lose their jobs.

Fire investigators had initially reported that the fire gobbled P833 million worth of goods and properties.