Over 6K typhoon-hit families in Dinagat Islands receive cash aid from DSWD
By Renelle L. Escuadro
BUTUAN CITY (PIA) — A total of 6,685 families affected by Typhoon Tino in the Province of Dinagat Islands received assistance under the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) program on Emergency Cash Transfer.
Held on December 12, DSWD Caraga released P10,137 each to the 715 families with severely damaged houses, while 5,971 families with slightly damaged houses also received P5,232 each.
DSWD’s ECT, activated following a state of calamity declaration, offers unconditional cash aid to disaster-affected families, allowing beneficiaries to purchase food, medicine, and repair materials. This program also bridges the gap between immediate relief and early recovery, while giving families the flexibility to address their most urgent needs.
Juanita Cabas, a beneficiary of the program from Barangay San Juan in Loreto town, shared her experience when Typhoon Tino hit the province on November 4. “Sa pag-abot sa bagyo, nihawa mi sa barangay. Pagbalik namo, wala na ang among balay, giguba sa kusog nga hangin pati ang mga butang. (When Typhoon Tino hit the province, we fled our house. When we returned, our house was gone. The strong winds also destroyed the things inside our house.”
“We were left with nothing, not even clothes. The dress that I am wearing now is from the family kit given by DSWD,” Cabas said. “As of now, we are staying with our neighbor.”
“Thank you, DSWD Caraga, for this help. I know that the money is not enough, but we can already start building our house and gradually recover from the typhoon,” she added.
Also, Pablo Olaco, from Barangay Ferdinand of the same town, expressed gratitude for the money he received from DSWD Caraga. “I will use the money to buy wires, an electric panel, among others, to restore our power connection, which was damaged by the typhoon.”
As the committee vice-chair of the Disaster Response and Early Recovery, a thematic pillar of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (DRRMC), DSWD in the Caraga region continues to ensure timely and effective support to help communities recover and rebuild in the aftermath of Typhoon Tino. (RLE, PIA Dinagat Islands with a report from DSWD Caraga)