At the payout venue, signages bearing the message that ISF staff/DSWD personnel do not receive cuts or commissions from beneficiaries, are prominently posted. This is part of the new DSWD leadership’s way of curbing corruption.
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is now distributing a total of P8.7M financial assistance to 485 informal settler families (ISFs) from Cavite; Laguna; Pandi, Bulacan; and, Pasay City and Tondo, Manila.
This is in line with the implementation of the Oplan LIKAS (Lumikas para Iwas Kalamidad at Sakit) program of DSWD in collaboration with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to relocate ISFs residing on top of or along waterways and other dangerous and high risk areas to safe and decent settlements.
As one of the implementing agencies of the program, DSWD is tasked to validate and assess the beneficiaries of the program, and to disburse the Interim Shelter Fund worth P18,000 to each of the family-beneficiaries which they can use to find safe residency and livelihood to support their families.
The DILG appropriated a total of P509,606,000 for the Interim Shelter Fund and downloaded the fund to DSWD for the disbursement of the financial assistance to beneficiaries and for administrative operations.
Starting Over
It is the first time for Marisa Abiso, a pregnant street vendor from Pasay City, to be a beneficiary of a cash assistance program from the government.
When asked on how she will use the money, she answered, “Aba, malaki po, malaki po ang maitutulong nito sa amin para sa panganganak ko ngayong buwan (It will help us a lot in paying for my delivery this month).”
“Kung magagawan po ng paraan na hindi magalaw lahat, gagamitin namin sa pagtitinda para makapagsimula kami sa bago naming titirhan (If possible that there will be money left, we plan to use it for our livelihood in our new residence),” Abiso added.
Another beneficiary, Rogelyn Fuerto, a 26-year-old beneficiary from Pasay City, plans to use the cash assistance to set up a mini sari-sari store for her mother and to apply for a job in a security agency.
When asked about the area where they will be relocated, Fuerto said, “Wala pa pong masyadong mga tao pero maayos yung titirhan namin. (There are only a few people in the neighborhood, but the place is decent).”
Abiso and Fuerto are among the beneficiaries who are set to be relocated in Lallana, Trece Martires City.
A long way to go
“We still have a very long way to go to ensure that all poor Filipinos have access to decent shelter and housing, as well as to the services that are necessary to ensure that they are able to raise their families well. We are encouraging Filipinos to be more proactive in seeking out the programs of the national government’s agencies that aim to provide these. By themselves, residents of urban poor communities can organize neighborhood and community associations and together press for improved and safer public services that are well within their means. From our end, we will also work harder to assist these community actions and efforts,” said DSWD Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo.
The Department is set to finalize its budget proposal for 2017 to prioritize programs and initiatives that will help Filipinos from the vulnerable and marginalized sector to stand on their own feet.
“Bagamat prioridad ng gobyernong ito ang mabigyan ng sapat na tulong ang ating mga kababayan upang magkaroon sila ng ligtas at maayos na kabahayan, nais pa rin po naming ipaalala na kailangan pa rin natin ng sama-samang pagkilos para matulungan ang ating mga maralitang kababayan na tumayo sa sarili nilang mga paa at maging produktibong miyembro ng kani-kanilang komunidad (While it is the priority of the government to provide enough assistance to our people so they can have decent and safe houses, we remind everyone that collective action is still needed to help the marginalized sector to stand on their own feet and to become productive members of their communities),” ended Sec. Taguiwalo. #
