DSWD extends ?2.1 million aid to city fire victims

CEBU, Philippines —  The Disaster Response Management Division of the Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 has facilitated recently the distribution of Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) to 113 fire-affected households from three barangays of Cebu City on July 13, 2023.

Of the total households, 55 are from barangay Mambaling, 48 from baranagy Sapangdaku, and 10 from barangay Guadalupe.

These barangays were placed under a state of calamity by virtue of a resolution considering the degree and impact of the damage.

DSWD-7 said that the amount given to each family is determined by the classification of house damage, with those declared totally damaged receiving 75% of the regional wage rate which is ?326.00 for 62 days while those declared partially damaged receiving the same amount for 31 days only.

Assistance reached a total of ?2,203,108.00. This consists of ?1.9 million for 95 households whose houses were declared totally damaged and ?181,900.00 for 18 partially damaged households.

Prior to the implementation of ECT, DSWD-7 has already extended a total of ?2 million in cash assistance through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program and ?881,000 worth of food and non-food items (FNFIs) to the affected families.

The local government unit of Cebu City has provided ?5.6 million, consisting of FNFIs and shelter assistance.

DSWD-7 provided the ECT following the request of Cebu City South District Representative Eduardo R. Rama in partnership with LGU Cebu City.

“Results of a further assessment of the affected families showed that they barely surpassed the impact of losing their homes and almost all of their belongings a few months after the incidents happened,” DSWD-7 said in a statement.

It added that the cash assistance would augment the families’ basic needs, including medicine, clothing, hospitalization, transportation, educational support, and food items not included in the DSWD family food pack.

“It also allows the families to initiate and take responsibility for its development, thus increasing their decision-making capability,” the statement said.

Aside from ECT, LGU Cebu City is also the Field Office’s a partner in implementing the Risk Resiliency Program Cash-for-Project “Gubat sa Baha: Limpyo ug Bantay sa Sapa” for beneficiaries from barangays Basak Pardo and Cogon Pardo.