By Jose Cielito Reganit | Philippine News Agency
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is prioritizing the distribution of monetary aid under the emergency cash transfer (ECT) program to families whose homes sustained significant damage from the recent typhoon.
DSWD Sec. Rex Gatchalian gave the assurance on Wednesday during his visit to Aurora province, where he met with local officials at the Provincial Conference Hall in Baler to discuss the distribution of ECT and other needed assistance in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Uwan (international name: Fung-wong).
“Alam kong it’s a thankless job iyong pagtukoy doon sa mga partially damaged houses [at] totally damaged, iyon ang laging pinaka-marami. But then again, gawin po nating matiwasay at maayos ang [assessment]. Pakiusap natin sa mga mayors ay tingnan ng mabuti lalo na iyong mga nangangailangan kasi iyan po ang tututukan natin,” Gatchalian told the local chief executives of Aurora.
He told the mayors that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has always emphasized the significance of cash assistance in helping Filipinos recover and rebuild their lives.
“The favorite line of President Marcos [Jr.] is ‘not all the needs of the people can be found in the relief packs.’ So, we have to start talking about cash assistance,” Gatchalian said.
Under the ECT program, beneficiaries with partially-damaged houses will receive P5,000 while those with totally-damaged houses will receive P10,000.
Social workers from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office will assess the extent of the damage to determine the amount to be provided.
Gatchalian clarified that this cash aid is intended as partial assistance and that additional support may still be given.
“I know it’s not enough. Pauna lang. We can also come back for recovery so we can augment. What is important is we are acting on their concerns rather than having them wait for a long time,” the DSWD chief said.
Among those who attended the meeting were Gov. Isidro Galban, Rep. Rommel Angara of Aurora’s lone district, and DSWD officials led by Usec. Diana Rose Cajipe, ASec. Irene Dumlao of the Disaster Response and Management Group and ASec. Paul Ledesma of the Office for Special Concerns.
Gatchalian later visited Barangay Gupa in Dipaculao to assess the extent of damage caused by the super typhoon.
He also supervised the ongoing relief operations, including the distribution of 500 boxes of family food packs, hygiene kits, and sleeping kits.
The DSWD chief personally distributed food packs and hot meals from the DSWD’s mobile kitchen, while taking time to check on the well-being of residents.
To date, more than 29,000 food packs have been distributed to various barangays in the ongoing relief efforts.
Based on the DSWD assessment, the municipalities of Dinalungan, Dingalan, Casiguran and Dilasag were among the hardest hit by the storm surge, resulting in Aurora province being placed under a state of calamity.
The DSWD’s Central Luzon Field Office has requested a replenishment of its relief supplies, with an additional 15,000 FFPs scheduled for delivery before the end of the month.
