THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Friday said around P1.2-billion worth of assistance is being extended to the victims of Typhoon Yolanda in Tacloban City.
DSWD Secretary Corazon Soliman said the assistance include food and non-food items; emergency shelter and livelihood assistance; supplemental feeding; and, the construction of an evacuation center/regional facility.
Soliman said the DSWD has spent more than P575 million in food assistance for 58,823 families from November 9, 2013 to October 17, 2014.
The food assistance consist of rice packs, bottled water, canned goods, high energy biscuits, noodles, and coffee, among others.
The non-food items distributed were tents, tarps, mosquito nets, blankets, hygiene kits, mats, used clothing, plastic glass/cups, collapsible containers, plastic pails, slippers, frying pans, cooking pots, canvass, towels, flashlights, and water jugs.
Soliman also said around P35.8 million was also released for the implementation of the Cash for Building Livelihood Assets for 9,395 families.
Some P3 million will also be released to fund the livelihood projects of 17 Self-Employment Association-Kaunlaran (SEA-K) groups while about P103,212 is allocated for the long term livelihood of other survivors.
Soliman said P23.86 million will go to the livelihood skills training of survivors that include 600 beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps).
She said P188 million has been used for the ongoing regular supplementary feeding and feeding program in bunkhouses for 112,227 children to ensure that they are getting proper nutritional requirements.
The DSWD has allocated P10 million for the construction of an evacuation center/ regional facility to prepare for future disasters.
“We are just awaiting for the finalization of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and documents for the change of location site,” said Soliman, adding that P68.9 was also allocated for the construction of 113 bunkhouses.
“Sinisiguro namin na walang maiiwan sa pagbangon na biktima ng bagyong Yolanda.Lahat ng bayan na nasalanta ay meron tayong kaukulang programa na binibigay para sa kanilang pagbangon [We ensure that no one is left behind in the rehabilitation efforts for Yolanda survivors. We have specific programs for all towns devastated by the typhoon],” Soliman said.
The DSWD is providing relief assistance to 48 families staying at the San Fernando Elementary School, the lone evacuation center still operating in the city. The agency is also paying for the electric bills of families staying in three bunkhouses.
PNA
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