A beneficiary in Pandan, Catanduanes holding the PhP 13,100.00 cash assistance from DSWD Bicol during the ESA and CFW Payout last September 22,2021
DSWD employee assisting a beneficiary in Pandan, Catanduanes to complete required documents to claim ESA and CFW benefits

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Catanduanes – DSWD Bicol commenced with its distribution of cash assistance under Emergency Shelter Assistance (ESA) and Cash-for-Work Program (CFW) for the second batch of beneficiaries in Catanduanes. Under ESA, 2,586 beneficiaries in eight (8) municipalities were served with a total of PhP 25,860,000.00, while 3,253 beneficiaries received assistance amounting to PhP 10,084,300.00 under CFW in nine (9) municipalities.

The first batch of ESA and CFW beneficiaries was served by the agency as early as December 3, 2020. Last year, the agency distributed PhP 38,910,000.00 cash assistance for ESA and PhP 12,062,100.00 to 3,891 beneficiaries in the municipalities of Baras, Bato, San Miguel, San Andres, and Virac. This year, the agency is set to distribute PhP 30,260,000.00 (ESA) and PhP 13,162,600.00 (CFW) cash assistance to beneficiaries in ten (10) municipalities in the province.

Each beneficiary will receive PhP 13,100.00 (PhP 10,000.00 was under ESA while PhP 3,100.00 was 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.

As of now, the agency only serves households with totally damaged house due to super typhoon Rolly. The cash assistance under ESA and CFW programs should be spent for housing repair, purchase of additional materials, and labor.

Re-ESA for the first batch of beneficiaries

During the distribution of assistance last December, some beneficiaries were unable to claim their cash benefits. The agency’s unutilized fund including unclaimed ESA and CFW benefits for calendar year 2020 was returned to the Department of Budget and Management. Thus, those with unclaimed benefits last year are not included in the master list of second batch beneficiaries.

DSWD in disaster recovery

The Bicol Region was hit by super typhoon Rolly in 2020, the year’s strongest typhoon. It affected 59,751 families with 237,660 individuals, left 23,514 partially damaged and 13,536 totally damaged houses, and caused 4 deaths, 5 individuals injured, and 1 missing person in Catanduanes alone.

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 intend to reduce post-disaster risks by providing shelter to families with damaged houses.