By Zorayda S. Tecson
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga, (PNA) — The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office 3, together with local government units (LGUs) and concerned government agencies, are working together for the speedy implementation of recovery and rehabilitation plan for the residents in Zambales and Bataan severely affected by the recent floods and landslides.
DSWD regional director Adelina S. Apostol said one of the components of the plan include the Cash-for-Work (CFW) or Food-for-Work (FFW) program for the displaced families in the hard-hit towns of the two provinces.
“The DSWD will provide Cash and Food for Work to affected families for their subsistence while undertaking clean-up operation of their respective houses and/or facilities,” Apostol said.
Beneficiaries of the Cash-for-Work and Food–for-Work programs will receive cash based on the prevailing regional wages or food in exchange for doing community projects, such as repair and reconstruction of damaged houses and community facilities, clean-up and garbage collection, among others.
She said the DSWD will also provide Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) and Cash for Work to families with damaged houses.
“We will continuously provide augmentation assistance to the affected towns as a way to help the displaced families to go back to normal lives,” she said.
Apostol, who visited Wednesday the affected families particularly the victims of the landslides in Zambales, provided immediate relief assistance and psychological support to the bereaved families.
She also said that the DSWD will extend financial assistance to the families of the landslide victims, P10,000 for the deceased and P5,000 for the injured.
Data from the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) showed that there were 30 persons killed, six injured and two others still missing due to floods and landslides in the Bataan and Zambales.
Out of the total casualties, 28 were landslide victims in Barangays San Isidro and Cawag in Subic, in Barangay Balaybalay, Castillejos and Barangay Aglao, San Marcelino, all in Zambales.
The six injured were all landslide victims in Barangay Cawag, Subic town.
To date, P2,865,488.80 worth of relief assistance were provided to the affected families from the combined resources of DSWD with P1,449,276.80; LGUs (P668,087.00) and non-government organizations (P748,125.00).
“Habagat” has affected 61,274 families or 287,306 persons coming from the 141 barangays, 13 municipalities, two cities in the provinces of Bataan and Zambales.
A total of 3,330 families with 13,736 persons were served in 90 evacuation centers that were opened since September 23, 2013.
In Bataan, 1,249 families or 5,513 persons were served in 50 evacuation centers and a total of 2,801 families with 8,622 persons were served in 40 evacuation centers in Zambales.
To date, there are still 636 families or 2,622 persons staying in 14 evacuation centers in Zambales.
Castillejos has 185 families or 631 persons still staying in two evacuation centers; Subic has 50 families or 289 families in one evacuation center; and Olongapo City with 461 families or 1,702 persons.
Of the total affected families, 3,995 families or 15,193 persons were served in their respective communities.