The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) continues to implement programs designed to assist the residents affected by the temporary closure of Boracay island to tourists, such as Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS), and Cash for Work (CFW).
“Patuloy naming ginagawa ang lahat ng aming makakaya upang matulungan ang ating mga kababayang naapektuhan ng pansamantalang pagsasara ng Boracay sa mga turista bilang bahagi ng rehabilitasyon ng isla. Patuloy din ang aming koordinasyon sa ibang ahensya ng pamahalaan at local na pamahalaan upang mapabilis pa ang pagbibigay ng kaukulang tulong (We continue to do the best we can to assist our countrymen affected by the temporary closure of Boracay to tourists as part of the island’s rehabilitation. Likewise, we continue to coordinate with other concerned government agencies and local government units to fast-track the provision of needed assistance),” Secretary Virginia N. Orogo emphasized.
As of June 23, a total of 2,958 residents have received the livelihood grant of P15,000 each under the DSWD’s SLP. Of this number, 1,323 SLP beneficiaries who were part of the first batch received their assistance last May 31, while the second batch numbering to 1,635 beneficiaries comprising the second batch got their assistance on June 23.
For the second batch, 642 came from Barangay Balabag, 333 from Manocmanoc, and 558 from Yapak. Also included among the beneficiaries are 45 individuals from the Boracay Ati Tribal Organization (BATO), 50 from Malay Sea and Land Haulers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, and seven from Caticlan Port Vendors Association.
According to Mary Ann Masculino, SLP – Regional Program Coordinator, the monitoring of the project implemented from the first batch of SLP beneficiaries is ongoing.
Meanwhile, under AICS, a total of 10,274 individuals were provided with transportation assistance amounting to P24.8 million as of June.
On the other hand, a total of 3,924 clients were provided with educational assistance amounting to P8.8 million. The DSWD has also provided P2.1 million as medical assistance to 694 clients and P37,000 to eight clients for burial assistance.
Under its Cash for Work program, DSWD Field Office VI hired 1,898 individuals from barangays Balagbag, Manocmanoc, and Yapak since June 11. ###
