ILOILO City – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 6 said that P11,081,563.23 worth of assistance had already been distributed to families affected by the El Niño phenomenon in the region.
Under DSWD-6 Early Recovery and Rehabilitation Section (ERRS) of Disaster Response Management Division, the assistance was released through implementation of Food For Work and Food for Training Programs in several municipalities in Western Visayas in the first quarter of 2024.
“Responding to EL Nino affected families is a priority of DSWD Field Office VI. Rest assured that we are doing our best to help them thrive amid this phenomenon and usher them toward survival and recovery,” said DSWD-6 director Atty. Carmelo N. Nochete.
On Food for Training, a total of P3,150,157 worth of assistance or 5,460 family food packs were distributed to 5,103 beneficiaries from various municipalities in the region. Beneficiaries were identified through the help of concerned Local Social Welfare and Development Office.
Each participant received a family food pack in exchange to their attendance to a two-day training that gave them basic knowledge on how to handle evacuation centers during emergencies and calamities and the importance of the Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) Reporting on all disaster-related incidents.
On the other hand, on Food for Work, 11, 893 Family Food Packs or P7,931,406.23 worth of assistance were also given to participants in return for their work rendered. Work rendered include clearing and rehabilitation of roads and canals.
The food for work and training are part of the programs offered by DSWD to help the vulnerable and disadvantaged groups and families especially this drought season due to El Niño Phenomenon./PN
