Over 10,000 individuals from poor families in the three provinces in Central Visayas have benefitted from the two-week Food-For-Work program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Leah Quintana, DSWD regional office 7 information officer, said the PHP6.3-million Food-For-Work mitigation fund was released from July 18 to Aug. 2 to 10,668 individuals from Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor.

“(The) participating beneficiaries have been identified as poor, families living in disaster-prone areas, and members of sectoral groups selected by their respective local government units,” she said in a statement on Thursday.

Of the number, 500 are from Bohol, 9,968 from Negros Oriental and 200 from Siquijor.

Each beneficiary received a family food pack (FFP) after successfully completing their disaster mitigation and preparedness works.

“The implementation of diverse disaster mitigation and preparedness activities (done) by the beneficiaries aims to provide crucial assistance to the inhabitants… particularly those dwelling in low-lying areas,” she said.

Their works included the clearing of waterways, tree and mangrove planting, canal and creek cleaning, and drainage system repair. (PNA)