The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol (DSWD-5), through its Disaster Response and Management Division (DRMD), has begun distributing on Monday financial assistance to families affected by Severe Tropical Storm Opong (international name Bualoi) in Masbate province last month.

Claudio Villareal, chief of the DSWD-5’s DRMD, said the aid is part of the DSWD’s Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) program, with a total of PHP191 million allocated for a two-day payout intended for families with destroyed houses.

“Each family will receive 75 percent of the regional daily wage (PHP311) multiplied by 33 days, totaling PHP10,263. This fund can be used to purchase necessary materials for house repairs,” he said.

The two-day payout is scheduled for the following towns: San Jacinto, San Fernando, Batuan, Esperanza, Pio V. Corpuz, Cataingan, Placer, Cawayan, Palanas, Dimasalang, Uson, and Mobo on the first day; and Masbate City, Milagros, Baleno, Aroroy, Mandaon, and Balud on the second day.

Livelihood aid

Meanwhile, at least 15 residents here received brand-new padyak (pedicabs) with cooking tools as part of the “Padyak Asenso” livelihood program initiated by Ako Bicol party-list over the weekend.

Jonna Borjas of Barangay Rawis thanked the party-list for the livelihood assistance that will greatly help the needs of their family.

“With the help of Padyak Asenso, I can be sure that my family will have a good future. I can be sure that every effort we make will have a stable income. As a mother, one of the struggles is the daily needs of our children. With the help of AKB, my husband and I now have a secure income,” she said.

Before receiving their pedicabs, the beneficiaries participated in a one-day training session aimed at providing them with practical business and management skills.

Aside from the pedicabs, each beneficiary also received essential equipment such as a food cart sticker, a high-pressure cast-iron single burner, a 16-inch aluminum wok, an 11-kg LPG tank, 17 liters of cooking oil, utensils (tongs, strainer, cooler, and stainless-steel tray), among others. They were also provided with PHP5,000 in startup capital.

“This initiative goes beyond just providing livelihood equipment—it builds sustainable development to empower Legazpeños to transform their lives through hard work, perseverance, and community support,” said AKB Rep. Alfredo Garbin Jr. (PNA)