A total of 18,253 families in Bacolod City affected by Typhoon “Tino” (international name “Kalmaegi”) will receive P114.9 million in Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) assistance from the national government within the week, the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Negros Island Region (DSWD-NIR) announced yesterday.

“The initiative reinforces the DSWD’s commitment to providing timely recovery support and ensuring that disaster-stricken families in Bacolod City regain stability and continue rebuilding their lives,” the agency said in a report.

The beneficiaries include 3,430 severely affected families, who will receive P10,325 each or P35.4 million.

The rest, including 14,823 slightly affected families, will get P5,369 each or P79.5 million.

In a statement, Mayor Greg Gasataya thanked the national government through the DSWD for the assistance and support to Bacolodnons affected by Typhoon “Tino.”

“Together with the DSWD, we will start releasing the assistance on Saturday,” he said.

Those who will receive the first tranche of assistance this December are beneficiaries from Barangays 1 to 41, and Felisa.

The next tranche will be released in early January.

The ECT program of the DSWD serves as a post-disaster intervention that provides unconditional cash assistance to affected families to support their immediate needs.

The initiative bridges disaster relief and early recovery by empowering households to decide on their priorities using available local resources, contributing to the early restoration of the communities. (PNA)