Last February 22, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office V, through the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP), distributed Php 1,680,000.00 of livelihood assistance to 84 Iriga City market store owners whose livelihoods were affected by the fire that occurred in the early hours of February 2, 2024 at Iriga City, Camarines Sur.

3 more families are yet to claim their livelihood assistance due to non-appearance during the payout.

This is the third round of assistance given by DSWD Bicol to these affected families, first under the Disaster Risk Management Division (DRMD) thru family food packs and other essentials, and second, thru the Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) where they each received 10,000.00.

The fire-affected stores of the Iriga City market consisted primarily of grocery stores selling food essentials to the residents of Iriga City; the rest of the affected stores were eateries, bakeries, a lotto outlet, poultry supply stores, a beauty product boutique, cellphone accessories stores, pili nut product stores, dry goods, and ready-to-wear clothing stores.

Each identified market store owner received Php 20,000.00 from DSWD for the restoration of their affected livelihoods. The identified market store owners hail from Iriga City and the municipalities of Nabua, Bula, Baao, Bato, and Ocampo in Camarines Sur.

DSWD Regional Director Norman S. Laurio and Iriga City Mayor Hon. Rex C. Oliva were present during the livelihood assistance distribution alongside Iriga City LGU and DSWD SLP personnel.

DSWD FO V collaborated with the Iriga City LGU in identifying the affected market store owners. For store owners who were identified to be residents outside of Iriga City, DSWD linked with their respective LGUs to identify and contact them.

DSWD’s livelihood assistance to disaster-affected Filipinos is part of the Department’s early recovery interventions to rehabilitate disaster-affected affected livelihoods that will, in turn, restore the local economy.