DSWD mulls cash-for-work program for affected residents amid Mayon Volcano unrest

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said Wednesday it is considering administering its cash-for-work program for indigent residents in Albay whose livelihoods have been affected by Mayon Volcano’s unrest.

At the public briefing, DSWD Assistant Secretary Romel Lopez said their priority for the program would be poor families and displaced workers, particularly farmers and other farm workers.

“Nasa pipeline na natin ang possibility ng pag-utilize ng ating cash-for-work program… [Ito’y] para mabigyan ng alternatibong pagkakakitaan o kabuhayan ‘yung apektado nating mga kababayan,” he said.

(We already have in the pipeline the possibility of utilizing our cash-for-work program... This is to provide an alternative source of income or livelihood to our affected countrymen.)

The cash-for-work program is the government’s short term intervention to provide temporary employment to distressed or displaced individuals by allowing them to participate in preparedness, mitigation, relief, rehabilitation or risk reduction projects and activities in their communities or in evacuation centers.

In exchange for the work rendered, the recipients would be provided with cash to meet their requirement for food and other basic necessities.

Aside from this program and the provision of family food packs, Secretary Rex Gatchalian said Tuesday that President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has tasked concerned government agencies to check if there is a need to provide families affected by Mayon’s restiveness with financial assistance.

“Sa pamamagitan ng ating cash aid, nae-empower natin ‘yung ating mga kababayan na sila rin ang bumili ng kanilang mga pangangailangan… It would be better kung ang kanilang mga pangangailangan na ang kababayan natin ang mag-procure at para mabalik ang dignity sa kanila sa ilalim ng kalamidad,” Lopez added.

(Through our cash aid, we would be able to empower our countrymen to buy their needs... It would be better if they are the ones procuring their needs and so we can also restore their dignity while under calamity.)

As of Wednesday, 15,502 individuals or 4,417 families are temporarily staying in 22 evacuation centers, while 659 people or 185 families were seeking shelter outside of evacuation centers, based on a report by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).

A total of 37,231 individuals or 9,571 families in 26 barangays in the Bicol Region have been affected by Mayon Volcano’s activities. — RSJ, GMA Integrated News