The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) lauded the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) for releasing P990 million in quick response funds (QRF) to replenish relief goods and for the emergency cash transfer (ECT) payout for those affected by the recent calamities.
Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao of the Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) said the DBM’s timely release of the QRF will ensure the continuous delivery of the necessary assistance, particularly to communities affected by Typhoons Tino and Uwan.
“Ito po ay mapupunta para sa pagpapatuloy ng implementasyon ng emergency cash transfers para doon sa mga naapektuhan ng mga nagdaang bagyo. To be very specific, ‘yung mga naapektuhan ng bagyong Tino at Uwan ay makakapag-umpisa na po tayo ng pamamahagi ng financial assistance,” Dumlao said in a statement on Friday.
(This will be earmarked for the implementation of emergency cash transfers for those affected by the recent typhoons. To be very specific, to those affected by typhoons Tino and Uwan, we will be able to start distributing financial assistance.)
Dumlao, who is also DSWD spokesperson, pointed out that the most affected regions in need of ECT payouts are Regions 3 (Central Luzon), 4-A (CALABARZON), 5 (Bicol), 6 (Western Visayas), and 7 (Central Visayas).
The Department, according to the DSWD spokesperson, continues to release relief assistance to those affected by previous disasters, including Typhoons Opong and Ramil, as well as the recent earthquakes that hit Northern Cebu and Davao Oriental.
Dumlao assured the public of the DSWD’s preparedness amid potential weather disturbances this December, with Tropical Depression (TD) Wilma gradually intensifying near Eastern Visayas.
The DSWD spokesperson also confirmed that while many communities have returned to normalcy, some families remain displaced and continue to receive family food packs and financial aid following the onslaught of Typhoons Tino and Uwan.
