MANILA – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has extended the cash-for-work program for the victims of an oil spill caused by the MT Princess Empress that sank on Feb. 8 off the coastal waters of Mindoro Oriental.
In a Laging Handa public briefing on Monday, DSWD Assistant Bureau Director Miramel Laxa said Secretary Rex Gatchalian made the directive to continue the cash-for-work as well as the distribution of family food pack and cash assistance through the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) program until May as the fishermen remain prohibited to fish.
“So basically, ang puwedeng makilahok po dito sa ating cash for work programa ay isang representative ng isang pamilya para nga po as much as possible, ay mas marami ang ating mga matutulungan sa pamamagitan nga po ng ating cash-for-work program (Only one representative from each affected families can participate here in our cash-for-work program so that more can avail assistance through the project),” Laxa said
The DSWD said a total of 32,661 families or 151,463 individuals have already been affected by the oil spill, particularly in Mindoro, Palawan and Antique.
Laxa said the DSWD and partner local government units (LGUs) are now assisting a total of 131 barangays in the affected provinces.
“This is to respond to the concern of affected individuals and families who do not have other resources to depend on for their daily subsistence,” she said.
The DSWD has so far distributed PHP116 million in cash to the 19,762 affected individuals as part of the cash-for-work program.
She said participants in the cash-for-work activities are primarily tasked to help contain the oil spill situation by using locally available materials to make improvised booms and oil spill absorbents.
She said program recipients are also tasked to do community cleanup drives and backyard gardening as an extra source of livelihood.
