The Department of Social Welfare and Development in Bicol (DSWD-5) has provided cash assistance worth a total of PHP2.8 million to fisherfolk affected by the shear line in Santa Elena, Camarines Norte.

A shear line is the convergence of the cold northeast monsoon and the warm easterlies, according to the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration. The weather phenomenon caused huge waves in the seawater of the region starting last November.

In an interview, Jastine Joy Dichoso Escuro, focal person of the agency’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program, said at least 953 fisherfolk received PHP3,000 each during a series of payout activities from Feb. 26 to 29.

“Each beneficiary received cash aid after their livelihood was affected by adverse weather conditions caused by the shear line disturbance. This assistance aims to support their daily needs while they cannot fish due to continuous inclement weather in their town,” Escuro said.

Edwin Barizo, a fisher from Barangay Maulawin in Santa Elena, said the assistance given to them is enough to augment their daily expenses as their livelihood is temporarily put on hold for their safety.

“Sa tagal ko po bilang isang mangingisda, ngayon lang ako napasali sa ganitong programa. Lubos po ang aking pagpapasalamat sa DSWD sa tulong na bigay nila sa amin lalo na po mahigit isang buwan na kaming di makapagpangisda (I have been a fisherman for a long time, but it is only now that I have joined this program. I am very grateful to the DSWD for the help they gave us, especially since we have not been able to fish for over a month),” he said.

Escuro said the qualified beneficiaries were identified by the Municipal Agriculture Office (MAO) and verified by personnel from the Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (MSWDO) using the Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) report as part of the AICS process.

Based on the DROMIC report, DSWD-Bicol has distributed 44,803 family food packs (FFPs) worth PHP30.45 million to 45,848 affected families all over the region so far this year. A total of PHP4 million cash assistance was also distributed to 1,412 affected farmers and fisherfolk in the region.

The AICS program under the agency’s Crisis Intervention Section (CIS) collaborates with the Disaster Response Management Division (DRMD) in responding to the needs of citizens affected by disasters, especially those belonging to the vulnerable, marginalized, and impoverished sectors of society. (PNA)