THOUSANDS of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program beneficiaries lost their homes and properties after super typhoon Yolanda hit the country. Over one month after the calamity, the beneficiaries felt helpless and hopeless, not knowing how to start over again.

“Nasira po yung bahay namin. Pagbalik namin mula sa evacuation center, sira na yung bubong at dingding ng bahay. Nabasa na yung mga gamit namin. Marami nang hindi mapakinabangan,” said Christina Labto of Brgy. Caidquid in Mambusao, Capiz. She has been a Pantawid Pamilya beneficiary since 2011. After the typhoon, her family temporarily lived in the house of a relative.

Melanie Sicharon of Brgy. Buta also had the same fate. Her family is now living in a makeshift shelter beside their dilapidated house.

“Natulog kami sa Barangay Hall dahil wala na, nasira na yung bahay namin noong Yolanda. Ngayon barung-barong na lang ang meron kami,” said Melanie.

Both Christina and Melanie needed money to cater the needs of their children and repair their respective homes. This is why they were grateful to learn that the payout of Pantawid Pamilya program covering the months of September and October 2013 was pushed through last December 19.

“Laking pasasalamat namin kasi may payout ngayon. Akala namin hindi matutuloy kasi naapektuhan din ang DSWD noong bagyo,” said Christina who was holding her two-month old baby as she waited for her turn to claim her cash grant during the payout in Mambusao Cultural Center.

A total of P3,313,300 of cash grant was given to 1,692 household-beneficiaries through over-the-counter conduit of Mambusao Rural Bank.

“Magagamit namin yung cash grant na pambili ng bigas. Pag may natira, baka pwede pa kaming bumili ng pako para maayos yung bahay namin,” said Melanie.

Pantawid Pamiya is the national government’s flagship program on poverty alleviation that provides conditional cash grants to poor households with children aged 14 years old and below. Qualified households avail of P500 per month for health and P300 per child for every school month for education. A maximum of three children are covered by the Program. Cash grants are released to the beneficiaries every two months. Cash grants however, vary depending on the beneficiaries’ compliance to Program conditions on health and education. (DSWD)