DSWD leads ECT payout to 6,166 shear line affected families in MisOcc

Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Rex Gatchalian through the support of Governor Henry Oaminal, spearheaded the distribution of Emergency Cash Transfer (ECT) to the families affected by the shear-line in the province of Misamis Occidental on Saturday, June 17, 2023.

The DSWD through the efforts of the provincial government of Misamis Occidental provided financial assistance to 4,194 beneficiaries consists of Oroquieta City with 1,304, Panaon with 328, Jimenez with 994, Baliangao with 295, Aloran with 387, Plaridel with 291, Concepcion with 297, Lopez Jaena with 298 at the BayFront Arena, Oroquieta and 1,972 beneficiaries consists of Ozamiz City with 785, Tudela with 146, Sinacaban with 496, Clarin with 545 at the Municipal Gymnasium, Tudela. Each beneficiary received P13,680 under the ECT program.

In his message, Secretary Rex Gatchalian said that the President assures continuous support to the victims of the shear line.

“Kaya nandito po ako ngayong umaga para gampanan ang pangako ng ating pangulo and upon his instruction kabilin bilinan niya na tulungan natin na maka recover ang mga taga Misamis. Ang mandato ng DSWD sa utos ng ating pangulong BongBong Marcos na tulungan kayong maka recover hanggang sa nextweek tuloy-tuloy parin ang ECT sa bawat pamilya na nabiktima para masigurado natin makabalik kayo sa normal niyong buhay,” Gatchalian said during the ECT pay-out in Oroquieta.

(That's why I'm here this morning to fulfill the promise of our president and upon his instruction he told us to help the people of Misamis recover. The mandate of the DSWD on the order of our president BongBong Marcos is to help you recover until next week, ECT will continue to every family that has been victimized so that we can make sure that you can return to your normal life)

The secretary also promised to provide assistance through the Sustainable Livelihood Program (SLP) and he asked the governor to have a warehouse for the storage of relief goods in response to unprecedented calamities and other emergencies.

Meanwhile, Governor Henry Oaminal vowed to continue providing aid to the affected families until they are able to recover from the calamity.

“Mga kaigsuonan, kaning nadawat nato nga mga ayuda dli lang kini ang mga ayuda nga food packs ug cash assistance ang atong nadawat aduna sa’y mga ayuda nato dire nga miabot sa pag enhance sa atong governance in addressing the needs of the people,” the governor shared.

(My Brothers and sisters, the aid we have received is not only food packs and cash assistance, we also have aid that has come to enhance our governance in addressing the needs of the people)

Oaminal is optimistic that through the collaboration of DSWD and the provincial government and LGUs, the residents of MisOcc will recover from the devastating effects brought by Shearline.

In an interview during the ECT payout, Jimmy Almario, a resident of Oroquieta City and a recipient of the financial aid said he is grateful to the government adding the money will be in addition to their business.

“Daghang Salamat sa assistance nga gihatag, dako kaayo ni og tabang sa amoa, sa amoang negosyo kay ipuno namo ni og puhonan. Mas maayo nga naay assistance nga gihatag ang atong gobyerno para makatabang sama namo nga mga kabos nga lumulopyo dinhi sa Oroquieta City,” he said.

(Thank you very much for the assistance, it is a great help to us, to our business because we will fill it with investment. It is better that there is assistance given by our government to help poor people like us here in Oroquieta City)

The ECT program aims to provide assistance to the more than 21,000 affected families by the calamity in the province of Misamis Occidental. (SMRN/PIA-10/Misamis Occidental)