As Typhoon Odette ravaged over the Islands of Caraga Region on December 16, 2021, the Province of Dinagat Islands (PDI) is one of the severely affected areas of which houses were washed away by floods and heavy downpour leaving its inhabitants in distress.
With this, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Field Office Caraga, through its Assistance to Individual in Crisis Situation (AICS) Program, in close coordination with the Provincial/Municipal Local Government Unit of PDI has provided financial assistance to the residents of the different municipalitines in PDI.
As of January 24, 2022, municipalities of Basilisa, Cagdianao, Dinagat, Libjo, Tubajon and Loreto were able to receive the cash assistance wherein severely affected by #STSOdette with totally damaged houses are being prioritized. The financial aid amounted to Php5,000. Here is the breakdown of the number of families served:
BASILISA – 980 families
DINAGAT – 1,837 families
LIBJO – 2,619 families
LORETO – 1,690 families
TUBAJON – 1,363 families
CAGDIANAO – 3,197 families
“Nabanlas gyud akong balay pagbagyo. Pero, lipay gihapon bisan sa kagul-anan kay buhi ra. Pasalamatan nako ang DSWD sa gihatag nga ayudang pinansiyal kay dunay ikapalit na nga panud-an ug ubang personal nga kinahanglanon. Salamat DSWD (My house was totally washed out as the storm ravaged the island. However, I’m happy amidst of this agony because we’re alive. Grateful with DSWD’s financial aid, I’ll use this in buying food and other necessities. Thank you, DSWD),” Mansueto T. Dominisac, 74 year-old AICS recipient, shared.
”Nalipay gihapon bisan nga bag-o lang nipanaw akong bana unya nabagyohan pa gyud. Ako ning ipalit ug yero kay nakatrapal ra ko karon human naigo sa bagyo. Salamat sa hinabang sa DSWD (I’m still happy, in spite that I’m still grieving the loss of my husband, and now affected by typhoon. I’ll use the aid in buying galvanized iron sheets in replacement for the laminated sack. Thank you for the aid, DSWD),” Erlinda S. Brinquez, 81 year-old AICS recipient, fervently shared.
“Naa mi sa akong pamilya sa evacuation center kay nahurot gyud ug kabanlas among balay bisan haligi, hurot jud. Salamat sa nagdumala aning cash assistance (AICS), nalipay mi kay makapalit mi ani sa among panginahanglanon. Salamat DSWD (We temporarily stayed at the evacuation center as our house was washed away, even its posts. Thankful of the management for the cash assistance, we’re happy with the cash provision as we can buy our necessities. Thank you, DSWD),” – Martiniano L. Jornales, 66 year-old AICS recipient said.
So as to refrain from discrepancies on the provision of financial aid, assessment and validation were also conducted.
Other accounted severely damaged municipalities will follow in the provision of the AICS. For those families not covered by the said cash assistance, the LGU has been provided budget allocation by the Department of Budget and Management to cover unserved families.
The Department will continue to deliver its relentless efforts and services to the vulnerable sectors especially, in the facilitation of the recovery of PDI and the rest of the affected Islands during the onslaught of #STSOdette.
