A week after the shutdown of Boracay Island to tourists, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) expressed its gratitude to community volunteers, civil society organizations (CSOs), non-government organizations (NGOs), and private partners who  assisted the Department in its  ongoing operations to help workers affected by the six-month closure of the famous tourist destination.

“Providing assistance to people in need is not easy. We are grateful to our partners in the local government of Malay, non-government organizations, civil society organizations, the local police authorities and fire brigade in Boracay, as well as other private individuals and volunteers for helping us manage and respond to the needs of workers affected by the closure of Boracay,” said DSWD Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Emmanuel A. Leyco.

With just simple text and chat messages, community volunteers from Boracay and local CSOs and NGOs, were able to mobilize and assist in the ongoing assessment, validation, and payout of the DSWD Field Office VI for displaced workers and non-Malay residents.

Members from the Philippine Red Cross –Boracay Malay Chapter and the Boracay Fire Rescue and Ambulance Volunteer (BFRAV) volunteered to provide emergency first aid assistance, while the Boracay Foundation Inc. (BFI) and Boracay Water gave potable drinking water.

The DSWD OIC also thanked the Metro Boracay Task Force Group for ensuring the safety and security of clients and the DSWD staff and the management of the Faith Village Gardens, where the new OpCen is located, for providing snacks for the volunteers assisting in the response operations.

In the meantime, from April 23, 2018 to yesterday, P9,731,500 was released to a total of 4,129 individuals.

Meanwhile, despite the influx of displaced workers lining up for transportation assistance, DSWD OIC Leyco said that the Department is already in the process of preparing the funds for the implementation of the cash-for-work (CFW) for residents and workers of the island.

“The DSWD is doing its best to ease the  uncertainty and stress the people of Boracay are experiencing, and we want to ensure that our affected kababayans will be given appropriate interventions and support until the island reopens. This is the reason why the validation and assessment process is very crucial to prevent the duplication of records,” explained DSWD OIC Leyco.

“In the meantime, as we go about our efforts, we appeal to the residents and non-residents to be patient as we continue to improve the relief operations in Boracay,” he ended. #