Kalibo, Aklan — As part of their inspection of ‘Yolanda’-hit areas in Western Visayas, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Juliano-Soliman, Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary (DILG) Mar Roxas and Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Voltaire Gazmin met here on Tuesday with Antique Governor Exequiel B. Javier and the mayors of the 12 Antique towns devastated by the typhoon to discuss the assistance needed by the affected families there.

During the meeting, Gov. Javier voiced out that the people now need shelter and livelihood opportunities, such as seaweed farming, rice farming and fishing, more than relief goods.

In response to this, Sec. Soliman requested the mayors to submit the list of families with totally and partially damaged houses.

The verified list will be submitted to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) which will either build permanent shelters or procure housing materials needed by families to build their houses.

Relief and Cash-for-Work 

Sec. Soliman said that DSWD will continue with relief distribution even if this is not the priority needs of the people as confirmed by the local officials.

She reiterated that food packs will be given out until the end of December as a transition to the implementation of  the Cash-for-Work (CFW) Program.

“We are now identifying those families who will be given CFW.  With the cash that they will receive in exchange for rendering community work, they will be able to buy their own food and other necessities,” she explained.

The CFW will be implemented for a maximum of 15 days. DSWD is studying possible livelihood activities that have shorter gestation period and will be more sustainable.

By January, relief distribution will focus on families who are still not capable to earn. These include those families with female heads, persons with disabilities, senior citizens, pregnant and lactating mothers, small children, and/or sick members.

As of December 4,  DSWD-Field Office VI has distributed 695,440 food packs worth P147. 6 million to affected families in the region. ###