DSWD assures support beyond Boracay re-opening

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

The government’s support to residents and workers will not stop even with the Boracay reopening to tourists.

photo DSWD

Social Welfare assistant regional director Delia Bagolcol said the rehabilitation of national government agencies will extend until 2020.

“May Phase II ng Boracay rehabilitation hanggang 2020 kasama natin ang mga local stakeholders at non-government organizations. Mayroong tayong plan of actions na gagawin, may tulong ang gobyerno, may mga trainings para magbalik sa normalcy ang Boracay,” Bagolcol said.

The Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force targets P1.36 billion for the law enforcement and regulations, environmental, social, economic, physical, economic, and the implementation of rehabilitation and recovery programs of Boracay Island.

During the six-month closure, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) released P266.595 million grants to displaced workers and residents.

Of the amount, the agency provided P25 million worth of transportation assistance to 10,500 individuals and P12.8 million education and medical assistance for 5,506 families.

“Bago ang closure, dito na kami, ang DSWD sa Boracay. Nagkaroon tayo ng assessment sa mga residente at workers kung eligible sila sa assistance ng gobyerno,” Bagolcol said.

A total of P4.5 million burial assistance and P158 million sustainable livelihood programs were also released to 10,596 families.

Cash for work for 5,933 individuals amounting to P57 million and P7.2 million worth of food packs were alloted to beneficiaries in the three barangays of Yapak, Balabag and Manoc-Manoc in the island. 

Aside from DSWD, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is also constructing the P490 million to widen Boracay main road and to improve the drainage systems.