ILOILO City – The DSWD6 has already released P862.5 million worth of relief goods for Western Visayas.

This amount is equivalent to 1,184,406 food packs. If broken down, Aklan received 173,321 food packs amounting to P56.8 million; Antique, 145,498 food packs amounting to P118.9 million; Capiz, 417,916 packs amounting to P380.6 million; Iloilo, 402,289 food packs amounting to P294.4 million; Negros Occidental, 45,297 packs amounting to P11.8 million; and Guimaras, 85 packs or P22,185.

“The relief goods that we have released have greatly helped Yolanda survivors especially now that we are on the lean months, also known as “tigkiriwi,” and disaster months,” said Assistant Regional Director Joel P. Galicia.

The amount took a big leap from the P154 million in January as the department released the second round of relief distribution on the first and second quarters of this year. The pack had 10 canned sardines, 10 corned beef, 20 packs of noodles and 20 sachets of 3-in-1 coffee.

MORE RICE, SHELTERS BUILT

Aside from the assistance given to typhoon survivors by DSWD, the World Food Program (WFP) also released 105,812 sacks of rice amounting to P93.4 million.

Also, a total of 10,565 shelters were built in Iloilo Province by Internal Humanitarian Organizations (IHOs).

Shelter Roofing materials were also distributed to 51,479 beneficiaries. These comprised of G.I. sheets and tarpaulins. Also, 85,302 beneficiaries were provided with tool kits such as hammer and wood saw.

MORE ASSISTANCE TO COME
The DSWD also disclosed that it will soon release P94 million in Cash for Building Livelihood Assets (CBLA) program for 23,396 beneficiaries. Fund source is from donations received by the government.

The program gives cash in exchange of community work at P287 per day for 15 days per person. Most of the beneficiaries will be coming from Iloilo Province with 11,202; followed by Capiz, 5,750; Aklan, 3,400; and Antique, 2,944.

Further, the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) of the department will be releasing P6.4 million livelihood assistance to 909 beneficiaries from the four provinces./dswd6/May Rago-Castillo