BANGUED, Abra – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has launched another adaptive strategy in bridging the gaps in immediate humanitarian response and early recovery and rehabilitation support through provision of unconditional cash transfer to victims of disasters particularly the Magnitude 7.0 Northwestern Luzon earthquake last July.
The DSWD Executive Committee led by Undersecretary for Special Concerns Vilma Cabrera with USECs Marco Bautista and Florence Denise Bernos-Bringas and Assistant Secretaries Marites Maristela, Diana Rose Cajipe, Romel Lopez and Irene Dumlao launched the Emergency Cash Transfer or ECT program at the Provincial Capitol here on October 10 with around P214.57 million funding for the early recovery and rehabilitation of 23,415 families in the Cordillera Region that were affected by the July 27 earthquake.
Under the program, validated earthquake-affected families with partially damaged houses will receive P8, 550 (75 percent of the P380 minimum daily wage in the region multiplied by 30 days) while those with fully damaged houses will receive P25, 650 (75 percent of the P380 minimum daily wage multiplied by 90 days).
Aside from the earthquake–affected families in the 27 municipalities of Abra, the ECT program also include beneficiaries from municipalities of Bauko, Besao, Tadian and barangay Sacasacan in the town of Sadanga in Mountain Province.
DSWD Secretary Erwin Tulfo, in his message read by Cabrera, assured that the national government, the DSWD and other national line agencies, in partnership with the provincial and municipal local government units of Abra will continue to assist the earthquake – affected families in the province which has the most quake- affected population.
“Bilang parte ng isang gobyernong may pagpapahalaga sa bawat buhay, nandito ulit ang DSWD upang samahan ang Abra sa inyong pagbangon, sa inyong panibagong simulain. Tunay na mahirap ang mapinsala ng sakuna kung kaya’t sa abot ng makakaya, mainam na daglian ang maging tugon sa pangangailangan.”
“Makakaasa kayo na ang inyong national na pamahalaan kasama ng provincial at municipal na lokal na pamahalaan, maging ang iba pang partner na organisasyon, iba pang national government agencies ay patuloy na magkakatuwang upang patuloy na makatulong sa inyo sa inyong pinagdadaanan,” Tulfo stated.
In behalf of the province of Abra and the ECT beneficiaries, Governor Dominic Valera and Congresswoman Menchie Bernos expressed their gratitude to the national government for the assistance that have been coming in for the earthquake–stricken population.
Also present in the event are Vice Governor Joy Bernos and local chief executives and representatives from the 27 Abra municipalities for the ceremonial awarding of ECT assistance.
DSWD Cordillera Regional Director Leo Quintilla bared that ECT payout is now ongoing and is given directly to the beneficiaries. He encouraged all the beneficiaries to wisely use the money in best way that can help their families.
