DSWD gives P17M aid for mangrove rehab

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 7 will provide P17 million cash-for-work program to help oil-stricken communities in the town of Cordova, Cebu.

DSWD-7 information officer Kerwin Macopia said that DSWD Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman approved the said fund requested by the regional office.

He said that this is part of the continuous mitigation efforts of the agency in helping the families coming from the 13 coastal barangays who were affected after the fatal sunken of MV St. Thomas Aquinas emitting oil following the sea mishap.

Many families were greatly affected specifically those who are dependent on fishing as their daily means of livelihood, he said.

Macopia explained that under the cash-for-work program, 2,996 affected families in Cordova will be employed to clean oil spill affected coastal areas and will be given P245 per day for ten days.

He added that the said beneficiaries will be involved in the rehabilitation activities wherein one of its family members will help in the cleaning of the shoreline including dredging of the barangay canals and other greening activities.

Furthermore, another 1,600 families of the affected coastal areas in Talisay City have also taken part of the immediate interventions from DSWD 7.

According to Jenifer Abastillas, focal person of Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Unit (DRRMU) of DSWD-7, the town of Cordova and Talisay City already submitted the official list of affected families.

Aside for this project, DSWD-7 had also distributed family food packs consisting of canned goods and rice during the first and second week of the sea tragedy.

A total of 9,561 food packs were distributed to the town of Cordova and another 1,700 for Talisay City. — (FREEMAN)