By Karen Bermejo – PNA
BORACAY ISLAND, Aklan — Residents of Boracay will continue to receive food packs from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 6, even though the island has already been opened for over a month now.
DSWD will turn over a total of 3,400 food boxes to the local government unit (LGU) of Malay this week, according to Reynante Lasay, project development officer and Boracay focal person of DSWD-6.
He noted that additional food packs will also be delivered to Boracay this month.
“This is part of our commitment to distribute three rounds of food packs for each affected family in the three barangays of Boracay,” Lasay said on Wednesday.
The distribution of family food packs was administered by the DSWD as assistance to affected residents during the island’s closure period.
At present, the DSWD handles the transport of food boxes from Cebu to Boracay. The food packs are then turned over to the Malay LGU for distribution.
Data from the agency showed that a total of 28,915 family food packs have been distributed to 12,431 families as of October 31.
“We continue to assist the LGU of Malay in providing assistance to residents who were affected during the closure,” Lasay said.
He added that the DSWD continues to monitor the programs of the agency — including the Cash for Work — which are already being implemented by the LGU.
He noted that DSWD has downloaded PHP20 million to the LGU for the implementation of the third batch of Cash for Work.
A total of 2,061 were hired for one month as part of the third batch, Lasay said.
Aside from food assistance and the Cash for Work, DSWD also provided livelihood assistance as well as other financial assistance to Boracay residents.
The island was closed for six months from April 26 to October 25 to give way to its environmental rehabilitation. It was reopened to both local and international tourists last October 26.
