Bacolod: Over 18,000 families in Bacolod City impacted by Typhoon Tino (international name Kalmaegi) are set to receive PHP114.9 million in Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) assistance from the national government within the week, as announced by the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Negros Island Region (DSWD NIR).
According to Philippines News Agency, the DSWD NIR stated that the cash assistance initiative aims to provide timely recovery support to disaster-stricken families in Bacolod City, helping them regain stability and rebuild their lives. The beneficiaries include 3,430 severely affected families, who will receive PHP10,325 each, amounting to PHP35.4 million. Meanwhile, 14,823 slightly affected families will receive PHP5,369 each, totaling PHP79.5 million.
Mayor Greg Gasataya expressed gratitude to the national government and the DSWD for their support to the residents of Bacolod affected by the typhoon. "Together with the DSWD, we will start releasing the assistance on Saturday," Gasataya announced. The first tranche of assistance will be distributed to beneficiaries from Barangays 1 to 41, and Felisa this December, with the next tranche scheduled for early January.
The ECT program by the DSWD serves as a post-disaster intervention, offering unconditional cash assistance to affected families to cater to their immediate needs. This initiative aims to bridge disaster relief and early recovery by empowering households to prioritize their needs using local resources, thus aiding in the early restoration of communities.
