DSWD to shift to cash aid for Mindanao earthquake victims

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said it is ready to transition to providing emergency cash transfers (ECT) on top of its food assistance to residents affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake that rocked Mindanao last week.

DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian made the remarks in an interview with reporters during his visit to Glan, Sarangani on Sunday to oversee the agency’s disaster response operations.

Gatchalian said he met with Glan Mayor Victor James Yap Sr. and other town mayors whose areas were also badly affected by the destructive earthquake.

“Kausap ko yung ibang pang alkalde, we have to start shifting from food to cash assistance. Kasi hindi naman lahat ng pangangailangan matatagpuan sa isang relief box. Alam natin na may iba silang pangangailangan tulad ng pang-ayos ng bahay, pambili ng ano pa mang bagay na walang dun sa kahon,” he said.

(I talked to the mayors, we have to start shifting from food to cash assistance. Because not all needs can be answered by a relief box. We know that they have other needs like repairing their home, and buying other items that are not in the relief box.)

He said the transition to ECT mode will be done in all earthquake-affected areas.

“Ang commitment ng DSWD emergency cash transfers immediately, so ganun din sa iba pang bayan ng Sarangani, sa Davao Occidental, sa GenSan (General Santos) City. The moment we get the listing from the LGU (local government units) eh agad agad nating gagawin ‘yun dahil iyan ang utos ng ating Pangulo,” Gatchalian said.

(The commitment of the DSWD emergency cash transfers is immediately, and that goes for other towns in Sarangani, Davao Occidental, in GenSan City. The moment we get the listing from the LGU, we will immediately implement it because the President ordered it.)

As of 6 p.m. Sunday, the DSWD has distributed 125,242 family food packs (FFPs), 6,990 non-food items (NFIs), and 7,428 ready-to-eat-food (RTEF) boxes in areas badly hit by the June 8 earthquake.

Gatchalian said the provision of FFPs – although an initial response to ensure that quake victims will not go hungry – will continue for another two to three weeks to augment the LGUs’ resources.

The DSWD has also deployed four mobile kitchens that are now providing hot meals to displaced families.

To address the erratic water supply, the agency sent its mobile water filtration system which will remain in Sarangani to ensure that affected families have access to potable water.

Gatchalian added that the National Housing Authority (NGA) will also visit Sarangani and other areas as part of the government’s whole-of-nation approach in rebuilding homes destroyed by the quake. — JMA, GMA News