ILOILO – The Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office (PSWDO) will provide food-for-work for El Niño-affected families.
A total of 10,748 families needed food and water assistance, said Dr. Neneth Pador, PSWDO head.
“We sent communication to all 43 municipalities and the component city of Pass, and nine municipalities reported to us that they are affected by the El Niño,” she said yesterday.
The towns that submitted reports to the PSWDO were Lambunao, Bingawan, Igbaras, Miag-ao, Maasin, Janiuay, Santa Barbara, Dueñas, and San Dionisio.
The PSWDO requested the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO) an amount of P5.8 million for the food-for-work program.
Under the program, locals needing food and water assistance will render services requested by their local government units in exchange for family food packs.
A family food pack contains six kilograms of rice, eight sachets of coffee, eight packs of instant noodles, three cans of sardines, and three cans of corned beef, Pador said.
One food pack is good for two to three days of consumption for an average family composed of five members.
“We will wait for the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to declare the province under a state of calamity. We can implement the program once the budget is approved,” she said.
Meanwhile, Pador said the disbursement of Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations of the PSWDO is still suspended.
Comelec Resolution 10511 bars public officials or employees, barangay officials, government-owned or controlled corporations from releasing or disbursing public funds effective March 29 until May 12, she said.
She said some individuals who went to their office asking for assistance were referred to other agencies like the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office, Department of Social Welfare and Development, and even government hospitals that extend financial assistance.
“The disbursement of assistance will resume once the ban is lifted,” she said. (PNA/PN)
