THE United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has partnered with the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to provide additional cash support to beneficiaries of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilpino Program who were affected by super typhoon Yolanda.

Under the DSWD-WFP partnership dubbed as “Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) Top-up Project for Typhoon Yolanda-affected Population in 4Ps Areas,” qualified Pantawid Pamilya households will receive P1,300 additional cash assistance.

“This is on top of the regular cash grants that our beneficiaries receive through Pantawid Pamilya program,” said DSWD6 Regional Director Ma. Evelyn B. Macapobre.

The WFP has identified 32,825 Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries in Region VI as recipients. The beneficiaries were selected from 19 municipalities in the region that were badly hit by typhoon Yolanda last November 2013. These include the municipalities of New Washington, Batan, Balete, Altavas, Libacao, Banga, Madalag and Malinao in Aklan province; Panitan, Ma-ayon, President Roxas, Pilar, Jamindan, Tapaz and Dumarao in Capiz; and Balasan, San Rafael, Estancia and Bingawan in Iloilo

Under the DSWD-WFP Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the ECT Top-up Project will involve two cash transfers. The first release amounting to P42,672,500 started in January 6 and will continue until January 15 through DSWD’s conduits. The second release will be held sometime in February 2014.

Macapobre welcomed the assistance of the WFP saying this will go a long way for Pantawid Pamilya beneficiaries who are still trying to rebuild their houses that were damaged by typhoon Yolanda. DSWD records showed that in Region VI, some 120,000 Pantawid Pamilya households were affected by the super typhoon. (DSWD6/ Alma Jornadal-Estember)