For Yolanda victims DSWD-6 releases P59.2M livelihood assistance fund

ILOILO CITY, Philippines – The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Region 6 released a total of P59.2 million in livelihood assistance to typhoon Yolanda-hit families in Western Visayas, especially to the beneficiaries of the Pantawid Pamilya Pilipino Program.

This financial assistance was given through the sustainable livelihood program, cash for work program and cash for work for rebuilding of livelihood assets program.

As of November 5, this year, DSWD-6 served 1, 279 families for livelihood assistance, 2,163 families for cash for work and 10, 193 families for CWRLA.

In livelihood assistance, 36 families availed themselves of a motorized banca, 12 tricycles and 16 pedi-cabs, while other families got various aids for calamansi growing, piña weaving, fish cage culture, royal bibingka making, farming materials, fertilizers, mini-grocery, vegetable garden, egg machine and farm equipment, among others.

For cash for work, beneficiaries were paid for cleaning of canals, coastal and damaged structures.

In the implementation of the CWRLA, 72 towns have already carried it out in their areas, while 84 target towns within a 50-kilometer radius of Yolanda corridor, and 81 others out of the typhoon have signified their interest to avail themselves of the program by submitting respective project proposals.

Payments are going on, either through fund transfer or cash payout, to those towns that have already completed their work under the program.

DSWD-6 Assistant Director Joel Galicia said the local government units that already availed the program and the people in the community are very thankful that they were able to restore their facilities, farm to market roads and other livelihood assets that were destroyed by Yolanda.

“Beneficiaries are hopeful that with all those assistance given to them they will able to surpass all challenges may come to their way,” he said.

In Region 6, the DSWD-6 has recorded 614,559 families affected by Yolanda. Of this number, 137,639 families are 4Ps beneficiaries whose houses were totally and partially damaged.