BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan— A total of 672 Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) beneficiaries in the three villages here on Wednesday received their cash grants from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
Gemma Santerva, project development officer for Pantawid program in Boracay, said that a total cash grant of PHP2.442 million for the months of February and March 2018 has been released.
Santerva said the release of cash grant received by the beneficiaries under Period 1 was fast tracked to help the beneficiaries who were also affected by the closure of the island.
The cash grant received by the beneficiaries comprised the PHP500 education grants for children in high school or PHP300 for children in elementary school, PHP500 health aid, and rice subsidy of PHP600, for each month.
The 672 were part of the 684 household beneficiaries in the three villages of the island. Of the 672 beneficiaries, 332 were from Manocmanoc, 207 from Balabag, while 133 came from Yapak.
Meanwhile, Santerva clarified that conditions for the 4Ps were only suspended starting the month of April following the declaration of state of calamity for Boracay.
For Marilou Casimero, a 4Ps beneficiary from Barangay Yapak, the suspension of conditions has lessened their burden, saying it would be a big help for her family especially in time for the opening of classes on June.
“I will use this money to buy school supplies and the uniforms of my children while the rest would be for our food,” she said.
During the giving of cash grants, Casimero received a total of PHP3,400 from DSWD.
Because of the closure of the island, Casimero lost her job as a housekeeping staff. On the other hand, her husband, a former boatman, is now hired as construction worker.
Santerva said that 4Ps beneficiaries could also avail of the other services of the DSWD in line with the Boracay closure.
The DSWD has been providing financial assistance for transportation, educational, medical and even burial to affected Boracay workers and residents.
As of May 29, the DSWD has already disbursed a total of PHP24.1 million financial assistance, PHP22.3 million of which was allocated for transportation assistance given to 9,221 people affected by the closure of world renowed island resort.
For education assistance, the DSWD has also distributed a total of PHP1.4 million to 687 beneficiaries.
The DSWD has also disbursed a total of PHP402,500 to 103 clients for medical assistance and PHP20,000 to four persons for burial assistance.
Aside from financial assistance, the DSWD also targets to hire 8,000 workers for its cash for work program in Boracay. (Karen Bermejo/PNA)
