Disaster-hit families in Davao, Caraga regions get P909-M cash aid

MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has extended more than P909 million worth of assistance through its Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) to the families affected by weather disturbances in Davao and Caraga regions, an agency official said on Thursday.

Assistant Secretary for Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Irene Dumlao said some 57,696 beneficiaries from Davao del Norte that were affected by a shear line in January received P574,652,160.

Aside from cash assistance, Dumlao said 205,726 family food packs (FFPs) and 756 non-food items were also given to the affected families of the weather disturbance in Bicol Region, Davao Region, Northern Mindanao Region, and Caraga Region.

A trough of a low-pressure area brought flooding in several provinces in Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Caraga, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) on Jan. 29.

The DSWD responded to the situation by extending over P702 million humanitarian assistance to the affected population, including ECT assistance worth over P335 million to 38,257 beneficiaries in Davao Oriental and Agusan del Sur.

"The DSWD, through its concerned field offices, have been consistent in coordinating with local government units to ensure the immediate recovery and rehabilitation of disaster-hit families in Caraga and Davao region," Dumlao said.

She assured the affected citizens will receive sufficient assistance from DSWD as they go back to their normal lives.

EL Niño-affected families

Meanwhile, DSWD Western Visayas Regional Director lawyer Carmelo Nochete said the agency Field Office-6 has so far released over P11 million in aid to assist families affected by the El Niño phenomenon across the region.

"The assistance was released through the implementation of food-for-work and food-for-training programs in several municipalities in Western Visayas during the first quarter of 2024. These are part of the programs offered by DSWD to help the vulnerable and disadvantaged groups and families, especially this drought season," Nochete said.

He said the beneficiaries under the food-for-training program received FFPs in exchange for attending a two-day training facilitated by the DSWD Western Visayas Disaster Response Management Division.

A total of 5,460 food packs worth more than P3.1 million were distributed to some 5,103 food-for-training beneficiaries who were identified through the help of the concerned Local Social Welfare and Development Offices in the region.

"The training gave them basic knowledge on how to handle evacuation centers during emergencies and calamities, as well as the importance of the Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) reporting on all disaster-related incidents," Nochete said.

A total of 11,893 FFPs amounting to more than P7.9 million were also given to food-for-work beneficiaries for the piece-jobs they rendered, which included clearing and rehabilitation of roads and canals.

"Responding to El Niño-affected families is a priority of DSWD. Rest assured that we are doing our best to help them thrive amid this phenomenon and usher them toward survival and recovery," Nochete said. (PNA)