Boracay residents get DSWD food packs anew

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) started the initial distribution of relief food packs for 10,880 beneficiaries in Boracay Island.

PHOTO DSWD REGION 6

The beneficiaries from the three barangays of Yapak, Manoc-Manoc and Balabag were affected by the temporary shutdown of the island. The barangays were also placed under state of calamity by President Rodrigo Duterte on April 26.

Each food pack contains canned goods, noodles and six kilos of rice for displaced families with Disaster Assistance Family Access Cards (DAFAC) issued by DSWD. The DAFAC system helps ensure the relief food packs are equally distributed to affected families in Boracay.   

On August 9, DSWD has started distributing a total of 1,519 family food packs in Eco-Village in Yapak.

The agency will also distribute 3,480 family food packs on August 10 in Balabag Plaza for the residents of Zone I and II (Lapus-Lapus and Diniwid), Zone III (Pinaungon Babaw and Sinagpa), Zone IV (Balabag Proper), Zone V (Bulabog and Bulabog Extension), Zone VI (Balabag Extension) and Zone VII (Manggayad).  

Manoc-Manoc beneficiaries of 5,881 will also receive their food packs in Manoc-Manoc covered court. The food packs will be distributed on August 11 for Tambisaan, Cagban, Bung-aw, Manoc-Manoc Proper, Malabunot and Cabanbanan residents; Sugod, Kipot, Tulubhan, Bantud and Kipot in August 13 and Manggayad, Lugutan and Ambulong on August 14.

DSWD regional director Rebecca Geamala said the  remaining 40,000 repacked family food packs will be released to residents once transported from Iloilo City to Boracay. 

Meanwhile, the agency is also hiring 2,000 workers for the 2^nd batch of cash-for-work program. The workers will be assigned in the clean-up and rehabilitation of the island for a 30-day period.

Geamala said each worker directly affected by island’s closure to tourists will receive minimum wage rate P323.50 per day.

Activities covered under cash-for-work are clearing pathways, installation of support facilities, desilting canals and drainage systems and other similar labor work.