The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol (DSWD-5) on Thursday distributed cash assistance to families affected by Severe Tropical Storm Paeng in Catanduanes.

The financial aid was given through the DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation program, Donna Osial, AICS program head for Bicol, said in an interview.

“DSWD-Catanduanes started to distribute cash assistance for families affected by which houses were partially or totally damaged by the Severe Tropical Storm Paeng. The cash assistance is for their immediate needs while they are recovering from the effect of the weather disturbance,” Osial said.

Catanduanes Social Welfare and Development team leader Edlyn Noble said a total of 52 families with partially damaged houses were given PHP3,000 each while 14 families with totally damaged houses received PHP5,000 each.

“The towns served with the cash assistance were Viga, Panganiban, Baras, Bato, and Bagamanoc,” she said.

Noble said they are still collecting and validating data from different local government units (LGUs) with regard to the other affected families so they could also be included in the program.

She said they have also requested LGUs to submit a list of registered fisherfolk for possible assistance.

Meanwhile, Osial said the agency has also given a total of PHP160,000 worth of assistance to 32 fishers affected by Paeng’s onslaught in Baao, Camarines Sur. (PNA)