In continuation of  its efforts to rehabilitate disaster-stricken communities, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) is set to implement community-driven employment projects for survivors of Tropical Depression Urduja that hit Eastern Visayas  last year.

The DSWD, through its Field Office in Region VIII, recently conducted a planning activity with City/ Municipal Social Welfare and Development Officers and the Local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers (LDRRMOs) in areas affected by ‘Urduja’ to create temporary employment opportunities through the Cash-for-Work (CFW) program for families whose houses were partially and totally damaged due to the disaster.

Based on the terminal report provided by the DSWD Disaster Response Management Bureau (DReMB), about 2, 742 houses were totally damaged while 32, 503 were partially  damaged by the tropical depression in Eastern Visayas.

One person per family with damaged houses may join the CFW program and may earn P214 per day.

Participants may engage in community development projects such as the establishment of small-scale infrastructures like health centers, barangay halls, day care centers, mosques, and other cultural heritage structures.

“We hope that this program will be useful to those who have been affected by disasters. We hope that they will gain more means to restore their damaged homes as they acquire new skills. We also hope to foster in them a sense of community volunteerism through their participation in community-driven projects,” said DSWD Officer-in-Charge Emmanuel A. Leyco.

A total of P155,386,921.38 worth of assistance was provided by the DSWD for families affected by ‘Urduja’. ###