Affected residents of Purok 3 Manggahan, Subic, Zambales participating in the declogging of waterways and irrigation canals under the DSWD’s cash-for-work program.
Affected residents of Purok 3 Manggahan, Subic, Zambales participating in the declogging of waterways and irrigation canals under the DSWD’s cash-for-work program.

Affected residents of Purok 3 Manggahan, Subic, Zambales participating in the declogging of waterways and irrigation canals under the DSWD’s cash-for-work program.

Some 350 victims of Habagat who helped in reconstructing damaged roads and declogging of rivers in Subic, Zambales received food packs under the Food-for-Work (FFW) program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), according to DSWD Field Office III Director Adelina Apostol.

The FFW is a temporary intervention implemented during disasters that provides food to individuals in exchange for rendering community work such as declogging of canals, maintaining the cleanliness of evacuation centers,  and removing of debris on roads and highways, among others.

Director Apostol said that a total of 1,050 food packs were distributed to the FFW beneficiaries form Barangays Manggahan, Kawag, and San Isidro in Subic, Zambales.

The beneficiaries received one food pack per day worth P250.00 for three days. A food pack contains three kilos of rice, two canned beef loafs, two canned sardines, two canned tuna, three solo pack milk and six 3-in-1 coffee.

“DSWD recognizes the effort of people who despite being victims themselves are still able to serve their very own communities,”  Director Apostol said.

Floro Elacion, Sr. , 32 years old, despite his disability, still renders community work.
Floro Elacion, Sr. , 32 years old,
despite his disability, still renders
community work.

Purok Leader Jun Hernandez of Purok 3 in Manggahan, Subic said that “the people wanted to clear the clog immediately because they fear that another rain will trigger flooding in our area if the water way is not cleared.” The FFW beneficiaries braved the raging waters of  the river to lift huge logs that blocked the water ways.

Hernandez said that the food packs distributed through the FFW will enable the victims of Habagat to meet their daily food needs while on their way to normalcy. ###