Camarines Sur – The distribution of cash assistance under Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) and Cash-for-Work (CFW) Program commenced in the Province of Camarines Sur last Tuesday, June 15, 2021.

The agency distributed cash assistance to 255 beneficiaries under ESA and CFW in the municipality of Balatan. In Bato, there were 842 beneficiaries under ESA and CFW served last June 16-17, 2021. Each beneficiary received PhP 10,000.00 under ESA and PhP 3,100.00 under CFW.

The amount of assistance under CFW was based on the Regional Daily Wage Rate (PhP 310.00/day) multiplied by 10 days of work. In total, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Region 5 distributed PhP 10,970,000.00 under ESA and PhP 3,400,700.00 under CFW.

Use of benefits under ESA and CFW

Both ESA and CFW are early recovery programs of the agency. These programs aim to provide assistance to disaster survivors to help them cope with the impacts of disasters. Moreover, ESA and CFW intends to reduce post-disaster risks by providing shelter to families with damaged houses.

According to the beneficiaries, the cash assistance that they have received will be used to purchase additional materials for housing repair. The beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to the agency for the cash assistance.

Unclaimed ESA and CFW Benefits

As to the number of unclaimed ESA and CFW benefits, there were four (4) beneficiaries in Balatan and 13 in Bato who were unable to claim. Most of these were due to non-appearance. Four (1 in Balatan and 3 in Bato) unclaimed benefits were for deceased beneficiaries with no listed family member living under the same roof.

The schedule of ESA and CFW distribution in other municipalities and cities in Camarines Sur, Camarines Norte, and Albay is yet to be finalized.