DSWD extends P11-M in aid to El Niño-hit families in Western Visayas

The Department of Social Welfare and Development-Field Office 6 (DSWD-Western Visayas) has so far provided P11 million in aid to support the families affected by El Niño in the region.
“The assistance was released through the implementation of food-for-work and food-for-training programs in several municipalities in Western Visayas during the first quarter of 2024. These are part of the programs offered by DSWD to help the vulnerable and disadvantaged groups and families, especially this drought season,” DSWD Western Visayas Regional Director Carmelo N. Nochete said in a statement on Thursday, April 4.
He said beneficiaries of the food-for-training program received family food packs for participating in a two-day training led by the DSWD-Western Visayas Disaster Response Management Division.
At least 5,460 food packs worth approximately P3.1 million were distributed to 5,103 food-for-training beneficiaries.
“The training gave them basic knowledge on how to handle evacuation centers during emergencies and calamities, as well as the importance of the Disaster Response Operations Monitoring and Information Center (DROMIC) Reporting on all disaster-related incidents,” he said.
Meanwhile, 11,893 family food packs worth approximately P7.9 million were distributed to 9,959 food-for-work beneficiaries in exchange for their services, which included road and canal clearing and rehabilitation.
The recipients were identified with the assistance of the region’s Local Social Welfare and Development Offices.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said Western Visayas’ agricultural sector has been hit the hardest by El Niño.