Giving financial support to the families affected by Super Typhoon Egay, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office CAR (DSWD-FOCAR) has now paid more than  ₱119,871,000 to 12, 957 families in the region through its  Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) Program.

In Abra, 12, 571 out of 12, 704 family-beneficiaries have received  already received their cash assistance as of September 9, 2023. Also, in Mountain Province,  386 of the 389 targeted beneficiaries  are already paid. The payees are the families whose shelters were reported damaged due to the above-named typhoon.

DSWD FO CAR Regional Director Leo L. Quintilla said that the Cordillera may take longer time to recover from Egay’s aftermath given its extent of devastation,  nonetheless the Department is ever ready to provide support to hasten the rehabilitation. “Being the Vice-Chair for National Disaster Response, it is necessary  to provide immediate relief assistance whether in cash or in-kind, which will assist the affected populace to recover,” he continued.

Based on Memorandum No. 17 of 1019, the ECT  is an strategy of the DSWD  in providing immediate disaster relief, humanitarian response and early recovery support in disasters.

Generally, the beneficiaries in Abra were thankful to DSWD the financial assistance as it will help them fix their houses that were damaged due to flooding.

“Iyamanen mi unay daytoy inted ti DSWD ta dakkel ti maitulong na daytoy a kantidad. Ta uray nu sapasap kami nga naapektuan ti Egay ket sapasap kami met nga maikkan ti tulong magapo iti DSWD,” expressed Leonora Cacasa recipient of the financial assistance from  from Barangay Agtangao, Bangued, Abra.

Meanwhile, San Juan, Abra Vice-Mayor Ari Lucas Bautista thanked DSWD Sec. Rex Gatchalian for the  successful implementation of ECT and also appeals to his constituents to use the cash for the repair of their houses or other household necessities. “Nananawagan iti families iti nakatanggap iti dytoy ECT nga ibanag da kuma nga nasayaat daytoy naiabot ti DSWD kenyada tapno makarecover da,” he stated.

In relation, the Regional Director reminds transparency shall always be observed among all implementing partners of ECT. For complaints  or grievances related to the ECT, the general public is advised to report it through appropriate platforms such as the ereklamo.dswd.gov.ph website; SMS following the format- DSWD <space> ereklamo<space>Name of Complainant<space>Complaint Message then sent to 3456; email through ereklamo@dswd.gov.ph, and/or through the SWAD teams at the local level. # DSWD FIELD OFFICE CAR, SOCIAL MARKETING UNIT, MYLYN M. BONGSIAN