The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is now preparing to implement its emergency cash transfer (ECT) program to support families affected by Typhoon Tino, with priority areas currently being assessed in coordination with affected local government units (LGUs).
Asst. Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said the ECT serves as a vital intervention that enables affected households to purchase essential goods and repair materials for their houses as part of early recovery.
“Ito pong emergency cash transfer, maaari pong gamitin ng ating mga kababayan to purchase additional food items that are not present in the food boxes. It may also be used to buy materials for the repair of their damaged houses or maaari rin naman pong gamitin sa iba pang mga needs,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao, who is also DSWD spokesperson, told broadcast journalist Karen Davila in an interview on ANC on Wednesday (November 5).
The DSWD spokesperson explained that the implementation of the ECT follows a trigger mechanism that requires a declaration of a state of calamity; confirmation that local markets are functioning and capable of supplying basic needs; and a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDANA) Report that will guide the determination of whether extended cash aid is necessary to address the longer-term recovery needs of disaster-affected families.
“This is 75 percent of regional minimum wage rate and it is multiplied by the number of days na mapag-agree-han with the local government units to support the early recovery of those who have been affected,” Asst. Secretary Dumlao said.
As the Department prepares for the rollout of the financial aid, the DSWD’s Field Offices continue to distribute family food packs (FFPs), ready-to-eat food (RTEF) boxes, and hot meals through its mobile kitchens to areas hit by Typhoon Tino, with over Php69 million worth of humanitarian aid already released.
Before the landfall of Typhoon Tino, the DSWD had prepositioned more than 2.1 million boxes of FFPs across the country, ensuring immediate response to affected LGUs, particularly in the Visayas and in the northern part of Palawan where FFPs augmentation is now being sent.
Asst. Secretary Dumlao assured the public that the DSWD maintains sufficient standby relief resources due to the timely replenishment of funds by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
The DSWD is also calling for volunteers to assist in the repacking of FFPs at the Luzon Disaster Resource Center in Pasay City as well as in the Visayas Disaster Resource Center in Mandaue City. Interested individuals may proceed to the designated centers to help fast-track the ongoing production of food packs. (KI)
