By Zaldy De Layola | Philippine News Agency
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office in the Cordillera Administrative Region (FO-CAR) will provide PHP10,000 financial assistance to the identified vendors who were affected by the Baguio City market fire on March 11.
In a news release on Thursday, March 16, the DSWD said some 1,700 vendors will receive financial assistance through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS).
The amount, it said, would be necessary to re-start or pump prime their businesses which were destroyed by the fire.
On March 12, the DSWD provided some PHP1.5 million worth of relief assistance through the FO-CAR to persons and vendors affected by the fire incident.
FO-CAR officials coordinated with the CAR Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (CDRRMC) immediately upon hearing the fire incident to assess the situation of the victims.
The FO-CAR also distributed food packs and non-food items to the victims, according to the city government of Baguio.
As of March 14, the DSWD Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center reported a total of 2,200 persons, covering 1,700 vendors with razed stalls and 500 surrounding vendors, unable to sell for two days. These 2,200 vendors were initially assisted by the FO through the provision of family food packs after the onset of fire.
To date, the FO CAR has 40,660 Family Food Packs ready for distribution to disaster-affected families and PHP5 million standby funds available for emergency relief supplies.
The Field Office continues to coordinate with the CDRRMC for significant updates and any request for resource augmentation.
