The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office V – Bicol Region began the first wave of Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) payouts in Albay on Monday, March 3, 2025, to assist families severely affected by Typhoon “Kristine.”

A total of 1,061 eligible beneficiaries from the municipalities of Daraga, Camalig, Ligao, and Manito received cash aid under the ECT program.

Families with completely damaged homes were granted PHP 9,768.00 each, while those with partially damaged houses received PHP 5,032.00. In total, DSWD Bicol disbursed PHP 5,679,944 in financial assistance during the initial payout.

The ECT program will continue rolling out in other municipalities and provinces to support families whose homes were damaged by Typhoon “Kristine.”

This initiative seeks to bridge the gap between immediate disaster relief and early recovery efforts by providing essential financial assistance to families in areas declared under a state of calamity.

As vice-chair of the response cluster for the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, DSWD’s ECT program is a key commitment under the leadership of Secretary Rex Gatchalian, ensuring the efficient, continuous, and effective delivery of services to disaster-affected families.