ILOILO City – The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Western Visayas has so far released P21,094,810 worth of assistances to affected sectors within a month following Boracay’s closure.
Boracay was closed off to tourists a month ago to give way to its rehabilitation with the Department of Environment and Natural Resources as lead agency .
The DWSD has helped a total of 8,700 island closure-affected individuals who availed themselves of transportation, medical and education assistances as of May 23.
The biggest chunk of the assistance fund went to 8,400 displaced workers who got transportation allowances which totaled to P20,423,310.
The transportation aid – with a minimum of P1,500 and a maximum of P5,000 – was given to displaced workers days prior to and after Boracay’s closure.
“Giving transportation allowance to workers affected by Boracay’s closure was the first step to help them,” said DSWD regional director Rebecca Geamala.
A total of 43 individuals also availed themselves of medical assistance worth P156,500.
In addition, the DSWD has given out educational assistance worth P505,500 to 255 beneficiaries who are either residents or workers in Boracay.
The educational assistance is intended for their children who are in elementary, secondary and tertiary school levels.
The DSWD continues to help affected sectors through its operation center at Station 3 in Barangay Manoc-manoc in the island.
Currently, the agency is accepting applicants for its emergency cash-for-work program. It needs 8,000 workers.
Each worker will receive a daily wage of P323.50 or a total of P9,705 for 30 days.
Workers and residents in barangays Balabag, Yapak and Manoc-manoc affected by the temporary closure would be prioritized in the 30-day cash-for-work scheme, said Geamala./PN
