ILOILO CITY — The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Western Visayas (DSWD-6) has brought 3,400 food boxes to Boracay Island for the residents affected by the closure.
The food boxes, which are part of the department’s commitment to Boracay, arrived on the island Friday and turned over to the local government unit of Malay, Aklan on Friday afternoon.
Leo Quintilla, DSWD-6 chief administration officer, said the boxes contain at least six kilos of rice, assorted canned goods, and other food items and kept at the municipal at the Malay’s municipal gym.
“The distribution will depend on the local government unit. Hopefully, they can immediately distribute the family food boxes,” he said.
The department will be sending more family food boxes to the island, but the volume and the schedule of the arrival cannot be disclosed yet, Quintilla said.
The DSWD-6 has poured out food and financial assistance to the families since the island’s closure in April 26 to pave the way for its six months of rehabilitation.
As of September 27, a total of 20,744 family packs, amounting to PHP 5,980,000, were released to 12, 431 families.
So far, PHP42.7 million, through the department’s Aid to Individual in Crisis Situation, were given to 17, 591 clients from the island’s three barangays’of Manoc-Manoc, Balabag and Yapak.
Under the Sustainable Livelihood Program, the department spent PHP158.9 million for 10,596 clients.
Quintilla assured that they will continue to help the residents in Boracay even after the re-opening of the island this October 26.
“We will continue with our regular programs, like social pension for the senior citizens, sustainable livelihood program and the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program,” he said. (Cindy Ferrer/PNA)
