ILOILO City – To address labor displacement due to Boracay Island’s impending closure for six months beginning April 26, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) in Region 6 has proposed an additional P200 million for its Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP).
Director Rebecca Geamala said a work plan was sent to DSWD’s central office.
She also clarified that the SLP may also cater to other vulnerable sectors.
It was recently reported that for Boracay’s closure DSWD’s help would mainly focus on the informal sector such as vendors and masseurs, among others.
To identify the beneficiaries, Geamala said DSWD would rely on the list to be provided by the local government of Malay and operators of businesses in Boracay.
DSWD has opened a one-stop-shop operation center in Barangay Balabag, Boracay.
“It is where our staff and other agencies work together and converge efforts in addressing the needs of Boracay’s residents and those of non-residents alike affected by the island’s closure,” said Geamala.
So far, said Geamala, 30 families have reached out to the center.
“Displaced families are our utmost concern,” said Delia Villa-Bagolcol, DSWD assistant regional director for operations.
DSWD already prepositioned relief goods in Malay, Aklan, the local government unit that has jurisdiction over Boracay.
The disaster response cluster is composed of its technical persons, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Office of Civil Defense, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Army, and Philippine Information Agency.
Citing the 2015 census, DSWD-6 estimated some 6,829 households would be affected by Boracay’s temporary shutdown.
As of 2015, Boracay’s population was at 58,000./PN
