The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is now preparing to implement its emergency cash transfer (ECT) program to support families affected by Typhoon Tino (international name Kalmaegi) in coordination with affected local government units (LGUs).

In a televised interview, Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the DSWD’s Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said the ECT program serves as a vital intervention enabling affected households to purchase essential goods and repair materials for their damaged houses as part of their early recovery.

The DSWD spokesperson explained that the implementation of the ECT follows a trigger mechanism that requires a declaration of a state of calamity; confirmation that local markets are functioning and capable of supplying basic needs; and a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDANA) Report that will guide the determination of whether extended cash aid is necessary to address the longer-term recovery needs of disaster-affected families.

“This is 75 percent of regional minimum wage rate and it is multiplied by the number of days agreed upon with the local government units to support the early recovery of those who have been affected,” she said.

As the department prepares for the rollout of the financial aid, the DSWD field offices continue to distribute family food packs (FFPs), ready-to-eat food (RTEF) boxes, and hot meals through its mobile kitchens to areas hit by Tino.

As of Wednesday, the DSWD has already released over PHP69 million worth of humanitarian aid to affected families.

Before the landfall of the typhoon, the DSWD had prepositioned more than 2.1 million boxes of FFPs across the country, ensuring immediate response to affected LGUs, particularly in the Visayas and in the northern part of Palawan, where FFPs augmentation is now being sent.

Dumlao assured the public that the agency is maintaining sufficient standby relief resources due to the timely replenishment of funds by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

The DSWD is also calling for volunteers to assist in the preparation of FFPs at the Luzon Disaster Resource Center in Pasay City as well as in the Visayas Disaster Resource Center in Mandaue City.

Dumlao said interested individuals may proceed to the designated centers to help fast-track the ongoing production of food packs. (PNA)