Over the past few years, the country has experienced disasters of severe magnitude, the most notable of which was Typhoon Yolanda which devastated regions in the Visayas in November 2013. These disasters are reflective of the ‘New Normal’ phenomenon which is characterized by the severe and multiple occurrence of disastrous hazards.

In an effort  to address the challenge of responding to the needs of disaster victims and reducing its impact on populations at risk, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), together with the World Bank and the World Food Programme (WFP), will hold a Workshop on Developing a National Framework on Emergency Cash Transfer in the Philippines on June 16 at EDSA Shangrila Hotel.

The one-day workshop aims to guide the development of appropriate framework systems and mechanisms on emergency cash transfer in disaster response and to provide a venue for exchanges of existing local and international cash transfer schemes.

“The emergency cash transfer scheme can be an alternative to the distribution of family food packs to population affected by disasters. It will enable disaster victims to immediately purchase the things they need,” said DSWD Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman.

As the Vice-Chair for Disaster Response of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC),  the DSWD is continually improving its strategies and mechanisms to effectively respond in times of disasters.

“The DSWD is cognizant of the needs of those affected by disasters, hence, we would like to try out innovative approaches to immediately respond to these needs,” Sec. Soliman added.

The workshop will tackle global experiences in the use of cash transfers in disaster situations, beneficiary selection, benefits and level of financing, risk and grievance management and delivery, and payment mode.

The resource persons and panelists include DSWD Undersecretaries Vilma Cabrera and Mateo Montano, NDRRMC head Undersecretary Alexander Pama, National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Undersecretary Rosemarie Edillion,  and WB experts on ECT here and abroad.

Tanauan, Leyte Mayor Pel Tecson and Guiuan, Eastern Samar Mayor Sheen Gonzales will also share their experience in managing cash transfers during Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. ###