Residents of Solsona, Ilocos Norte whose houses were partially damaged and submerged in floodwaters due to typhoons “Egay” and “Goring” in July and August received cash aid from the government on Tuesday, facilitated by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DWSD).

The emergency cash transfer (ECT) program gave PHP9,000 to owners of partially damaged houses and PHP4,500 each for those whose houses were flooded.

The 1,078 recipients comprise the third batch of ECT beneficiaries this month.

Prior to the release, DSWD 1 director Marie Angela Gopalan said field offices in the region validated and consolidated the list of beneficiaries with help from the Provincial Social Welfare and Development Office.

“We are dependent on the quality of data submitted by the barangays (villages) to the MWSDO (Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office). Numbers do not always match the actual list so we have to do spot validation,” she added.

Vice Mayor Jonathan de Lara thanked the DSWD and the provincial government for facilitating the cash assistance.

“We are so thankful to the national government as well as the provincial government for helping us recover,” he said. (PNA)