As the road to recovery of Batanes continues after the devastation brought by Typhoon Ferdie, the provincial government requested for the immediate implementation of cash-for-work (CFW) and emergency shelter program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) to hasten the shelter reconstruction and rehabilitation works in the area.

Under the CFW, the beneficiaries are given work and appropriate compensation according to their capacity such as cleaning of debris, coastal clean-up, canal dredging, and communal gardening, among others.

DSWD Field Office-II attended a special meeting with the Regional Disaster and Risk Reduction and Management Council (RDRRMC) and the provincial government of Batanes to present the initial findings and recommendations of the Rapid Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis (RDANA) Team and their other suggested programs for the immediate recovery and rehabilitation of the affected towns.

Meanwhile, aside from the continuous house-to-house distribution of family food packs and other supplies to affected families by the relief mission team, stress debriefing sessions are now ongoing following the arrival of five trained social workers on Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) last September 20 via commercial plane.

After a more intensive assessment conducted by the RDANA team, the total number of families affected by Typhoon Ferdie has increased to 4,594 or 16,684 individuals,. However, only six families or 36 persons continue to remain in an evacuation center in Basco as the rest have gone back to repair their homes.

The data on damaged houses also increased to 2,238, of which, 409 are totally damaged while 1,829 are partially damaged.

DSWD Secretary Judy M. Taguiwalo reiterated that the Department will continue to monitor the response and rehabilitation mission in Batanes.

“Malaki ang paghanga ko sa mga kababayan nating Ivatan na patuloy na ipinapakita ang kanilang katatagan kahit maraming bagyo na ang dumating sa kanilang lugar. Makakaasa po kayo na patuloy namin kayong bibigyan ng maagap at mapagkalingang serbisyo hanggang sa muli kayong makabangon at makapagsimula muli (I admire our fellow Ivatans for being resilient despite the numerous typhoons that hit their land. I assure you that you can depend on us to continue to provide prompt and compassionate service until you fully recover from the effects of the typhoon),” said Sec. Taguiwalo. ###