The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) 11 (Davao Region) continued its distribution of Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) assistance on Thursday, reaching 1,059 residents of Balut Island in Sarangani, Davao Occidental who were affected by the magnitude 7.8 earthquake on June 8.

Of the beneficiaries, 238 families whose homes were destroyed received PHP10,244 each, totaling PHP2.43 million, while 821 families with damaged houses were granted PHP5,122 each, totaling PHP4.2 million.

DSWD-11 said the financial aid is intended to meet immediate needs, support home repairs, and help families gradually restore their livelihoods.

“The assistance serves as initial support for rebuilding their homes and daily lives, while strengthening their resilience and dignity as they make a fresh start,” the agency said.

The ECT program is part of the government’s ongoing disaster response and early recovery interventions, ensuring prompt support for families most affected by disasters.

It also hastens early recovery and rehabilitation by bridging gaps among immediate disaster relief, humanitarian response, and early recovery support, providing unconditional cash to disaster-stricken families.

ECT empowers affected families to determine their own needs by using available local resources while simultaneously supporting the early revival of local markets. (PNA)