• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Negros Island Region said it already released P762,257,422 to 126,930 beneficiaries affected by Typhoon Tino in Negros Island, as of March 6.
The assistance, under the Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) program, is equivalent to a 64.37 percent accomplishment rate, the DSWD-NIR said in a post March 7.
The beneficiaries include affected residents across the municipalities of Binalbagan, Hinigaran, Isabela, La Castellana, Moises Padilla, Pulupandan, and San Enrique, and the cities of Bago, Himamaylan, La Carlota, all in Negros Occidental, and Canlaon City in Negros Oriental.
The ECT aims to help families meet their immediate and basic needs as they recover from the effects of disasters, it added.
ECT payouts were also held March 8 in Binalbagan, Pontevedra, Valladolid, Moises Padilla, and Himamaylan City.
Bacolod Mayor Greg Gasataya also earlier announced that 102 families severely-affected by “Tino” will receive P10,325 each, and 15,097 others slightly-affected will get P5,369 during the ECT payouts starting today until March 12.
The Department of Social Services and Development-Bacolod said these beneficiaries, who were “left out” or “replaced”, compose the third and final batch of ECT recipients in the highly-urbanized city.
The payouts for the first and second batches, held in December, and worth P230 million, benefited more than 39,000 families.
The DSWD-NIR clarified that ECT payouts are being conducted to provide financial assistance to beneficiaries affected by Typhoon Tino, as identified by the respective LGUs. “The beneficiaries included in the payroll list were identified, assessed, and validated by the concerned LGUs, in accordance with established guidelines. Possible exclusions may occur due to delayed or non-submission of beneficiary lists by the LGUs, based on the agreed deadline.”
The department facilitates the payout, based on the official lists submitted by the LGUs. “The DSWD-NIR does not delete or drop names from the list submitted by the LGUs. In cases where discrepancies or concerns arise regarding the list of beneficiaries, these matters are referred back to the concerned LGU for appropriate verification and action.” | CGC
