By CESAR JOLITO III
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) has begun pilot testing the payout and distribution of more than P1.1 billion in cash assistance for families and tourism workers affected by Typhoon “Tino” across Negros Island.
DSWD officials said the pilot payout aims to fine-tune the process ahead of a large-scale, simultaneous distribution in the 4th and 5th Districts of Negros Occidental, which were among the hardest hit by the typhoon.
The initial rollout is being conducted in coordination with local government units (LGUs), with Hinigaran town serving as one of the pilot sites.
A total of 198,984 families are set to benefit from the Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) program.
Of this number, 18,839 families with totally damaged houses are classified as severely affected and will receive P10,325 each, amounting to about P194.5 million.
Meanwhile, 180,145 families with partially damaged houses will receive P5,369 each, equivalent to P967.1 million.
“All in all, we are about to disburse more than P1.1 billion in cash assistance,” DSWD officials said, noting that the funds are now being processed directly within the Negros Island Region, rather than through the agency’s mother region, to speed up releases.
In addition to household assistance, the DSWD will also distribute P12.3 million in aid to 1,193 tourism workers affected by the typhoon, most of whom are based in Negros Occidental.
Each qualified tourism worker is expected to receive P10,325 under a separate ECT component.
The agency clarified that some areas, including La Castellana town, were only partially covered in earlier rounds due to limited funds at the time.
Officials assured residents that La Castellana will be revisited to fully cover reported severely and slightly affected families, amid concerns raised on social media.
The DSWD acknowledged that the large-scale payout poses logistical challenges and appealed for continued support from LGUs.
Several municipalities are being encouraged to provide multiple payout sites to ensure faster and more orderly distribution.
After completing the pilot in Hinigaran, the DSWD plans to roll out payouts simultaneously in other affected LGUs such as Moises Padilla, Isabela, La Castellana, and areas in Negros Oriental, including Canlaon City.
The agency targets to complete the distribution of assistance before the end of the first quarter of the year as part of the government’s continuing efforts to help communities recover from the devastation caused by Typhoon “Tino.”/CJ, WDJ