Davao city: The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 11 in the Davao Region has introduced the Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) Offline Payout System aimed at expediting and streamlining the distribution of financial aid to families impacted by disasters.
According to Philippines News Agency, the system was developed by the DSWD-11's Information and Communication Technology Management Section (ICTMS) in collaboration with the Disaster Response Management Division (DRMD). The new system automates several payout processes, including validation, record updates, payroll, and real-time reporting. This automation is designed to reduce paperwork, ease crowding, and save time during the distribution process.
Peter Paul Villaluna, head of the DSWD-11 ICTMS, stated that the new system significantly reduces processing time for beneficiaries to just five to ten minutes. Data from the agency indicates that an average of 2,300 beneficiaries can be served within an eight to nine-hour period, assuming all necessary requirements are met. Villaluna emphasized that this development is part of their transition towards a completely automated DSWD-11 to enhance service delivery.
In a separate statement, DSWD-11 Regional Director Rhuelo Dalilis Aradanas highlighted that this system is part of their digital shift to provide services that are simpler, faster, and more transparent. The ECT program provides cash assistance to families affected by disasters, enabling them to purchase essential items such as food, medicine, and shelter, while also supporting recovery efforts and stimulating local economies.
The agency is targeting the completion of PHP2.2 billion worth of ECT distribution to families affected by the current trough of a low-pressure area (LPA) across three Davao provinces by October. Agency records reveal that 569,147 families in the region have been impacted, with 168,873 families in Davao del Norte, 217,784 in Davao de Oro, and 182,490 in Davao Oriental. So far, 270,175 beneficiaries across these provinces have received ECT assistance.
