The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) thanked the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for the release of PHP990 million in quick response fund (QRF) that will be used to replenish relief goods and for the emergency cash transfer (ECT) payout for those affected by the recent typhoons and earthquakes.
Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said the DBM’s timely release of the QRF will ensure the continuous delivery of the necessary assistance, particularly to communities affected by Typhoons Tino (international name Kalmaegi) and Uwan (international name Fung-wong)
“Ito po ay mapupunta para sa pagpapatuloy ng implementasyon ng emergency cash transfers para doon sa mga naapektuhan ng mga nagdaang bagyo. To be very specific, ‘yung mga naapektuhan ng bagyong Tino at Uwan ay makakapag-umpisa na po tayo ng pamamahagi ng financial assistance (This will go to the continuous implementation of emergency cash transfers for those affected by the recent typhoons. We can now start distributing financial assistance to families affected by Tino and Uwan),” Dumlao said Thursday in a media forum at the DSWD Central Office in Quezon City.
The DSWD spokesperson said the most affected regions in need of ECT payouts are Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Bicol, Western Visayas, and Central Visayas.
Meanwhile, she said the DSWD continues to release relief assistance to those affected by previous disasters, including Typhoons Opong (Bualoi) and Ramil (Fengshen), as well as the recent earthquakes that hit Northern Cebu and Davao Oriental.
Dumlao assured the public of the DSWD’s preparedness amid Tropical Depression Wilma, and other potential weather disturbances this December.
“Ang DSWD naman po ay nakahanda. Mayroon po tayong 1.3 million family food packs (FFPs) na naka-preposition sa iba’t ibang bahagi ng bansa at nagpapatuloy ang production sa amin pong (The DSWD is prepared. We have 1.3 million FFPs prepositioned across the country and production continues at our) Luzon Disaster Resource Center and Visayas Disaster Resource Center,” she said. (PNA)
