THE Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) yesterday started the distribution of emergency cash transfer (ECT) to families affected by super typhoon “Egay” in Cagayan Valley and Central Luzon as Social Welfare Secretary Rex Gatchalian ordered the department’s field offices to expedite the distribution to help those affected to repair or rebuild their damaged homes and eventually recover faster.
At least 704 families in Aparri in Cagayan received the cash aid during the first day of distribution in Region II (Cagayan Valley) while a simultaneous ECT payout was also held in Bulacan and Pampanga in Region III (Central Luzon).
“The ECT aims to help the families recover from the effects of the typhoon and to repair and rebuild their damaged homes,” the DSWD said in explaining the purpose of the cash aid.
Last month, the DSWD started the distribution of ECT in the Ilocos Region and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR). As of August 21, it has served 383 out of 389 beneficiaries, or 98.71 percent of its ECT target beneficiaries in CAR.
At least P3.465 million has been distributed in CAR.
The ECT is on top of over P411.08 million worth of family food packs and non-food relief items that have been distributed to the 969,745 families (3.59 million people) affected by Egay in 13 regions in the country. — Jocelyn Montemayor
