The Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Field Office (FO) 6 – Western Visayas on Thursday (May 15) distributed Php9.8M in cash aid to families and individuals displaced by the Mt. Kanlaon eruption in Negros Occidental.

During simultaneous payout activities, a total of 1,711 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) each received Php5,775 in cash assistance.

Of the total recipients, 1,362 were from La Castellana, 327 from La Carlota City, and 22 from Bago City. These areas were among the most-affected by ashfalls and volcanic emissions throughout the 5-month unrest of Mt. Kanlaon.

According to DSWD FO – Western Visayas Regional Director (RD) Arwin Razo, the payout marked the first disbursement of Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) relative to the protracted Mt. Kanlaon crisis in the province.

RD Razo explained that the ECT is a key intervention of the DSWD that complements the provision of in-kind assistance through unconditional cash support to families and individuals affected by disasters and emergencies.

“Even as we continue to provide family food packs, the emergency cash transfer is a crucial form of assistance that will help our displaced families in meeting their specific and urgent needs. With this cash aid, they are given the means to support themselves more effectively as they endure this difficult period,” RD Razo pointed out.

The outright cash aid capacitates the beneficiaries to purchase their priority needs and rebuild their lives and livelihoods.

RD Razo said the DSWD FO-6 will continue to work closely with concerned local government units (LGUs) and partner agencies to monitor the needs of the evacuees and scale up other necessary interventions for them in any eventuality. (LSJ)