A total of 22,888 household beneficiaries in Bago City, Negros Occidental, affected by the devastation of Typhoon Tino in November 2025, began receiving financial assistance from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) on Tuesday.

Under the Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) program, the component city, just south of Bacolod, has an allocation of PHP130.66 million.

In an interview, City Social Welfare and Development Office head Leah Pilipina Canayon said the series of payouts for the beneficiaries from all 24 barangays will run until March 7.

“If they have concerns before coming to the venue, they can ask for assistance from their respective barangays. They will be assisted in completing the required documents,” she added.

On the first day, 1,568 severely affected beneficiaries from 24 villages and 1,011 slightly affected beneficiaries from Barangay Tabunan were expected to receive the cash aid.

Households with houses that were destroyed get PHP10,325 each, while those with houses that were damaged get PHP5,369 each.

Data of the DSWD – Negros Island Region showed that as of March 2, total ECT disbursement has reached PHP574.96 million since the start of the payout on Feb. 12.

The amount was released to 85,990 beneficiaries affected in the municipalities of Hinigaran, Isabela, La Castellana, and San Enrique, as well as the cities of Himamaylan and La Carlota in Negros Occidental, and Canlaon in Negros Oriental.

“The ECT program aims to provide immediate financial support to meet the basic needs of affected families and aid their recovery. This is being implemented in accordance with the directive of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to expedite the delivery of government assistance to disaster victims and ensure that no one is left behind in the recovery process,” the DSWD-NIR said in a statement. (PNA)